The next recipe that the Tuesday's with Dorie bakers chose to bake is Finnish Pulla. Along with yeast, salt, flour, and water, it includes eggs, milk, sugar, and butter, and is flavored with cardamom. It is a lot like a faintly sweet challah.
I know two little boys who loved this bread. While waiting for their dad (our son) to pick them up, they each asked for a piece, and then asked for another piece, and then a third piece until I cut them off before spoiling their appetites. I sent half of the loaf home with them.
This bread is braided and shaped into a ring. A small amount of the dough is cut off of the ends of the bread and shaped into a bow to conceal the seam where the two ends are joined.
I tried several times to make a bow, but it looked more like a weird pretzel, so I ended up wrapping the strands around the seam (see upper left). Hey, the photo in the cookbook, doesn't have a bow either.
I followed the recipe as written (except the bow), and even used the Swedish pearl sugar called for in the recipe, which I had added on impulse to a King Arthur Flour order. It's soooo nice to justify an impulse buy.
This bread rose quite a bit in the oven. I just love watching the miracle of "oven spring" in the oven window. I've probably shortened the life of my oven light because I love watching bread rise when it first hits the heat. You'll love working with this dough.
This bread is surprisingly easy to make and looks impressive. It is best served the first day, but also makes lovely toast and French toast. Serve it as a breakfast bread or celebration bread.
This bread is on page 106 of the book Baking with Julia by Dorie Greenspan. It is based on the PBS Series of the same name. To get the recipe, visit our host Erin of The Daily Morsel. Or buy the book! To see other bakers' experiences with this recipe, visit the Tuesdays with Dorie site.
It's nice to see what the pearl sugar looks like on the loaf - I used some coarse cane sugar that I had on hand. I have to say, that endorsement from your grandsons was sweet. When kids ask for thirds, you know it's good!
ReplyDeleteYes, I love it when they really like what I make.
DeleteThis was a beautiful loaf, wasn't it? The color on yours is perfect.
ReplyDeleteI kept looking for the bow in the picture as well - I wanted to see how they did it. No bow!!!!
Annoying right?
DeleteLOL...yeah, that bow was the hardest part of this recipe! Beautiful wreath!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I must have tried about 10 times, then I imagined that even if I got a good bow that it would morph in the oven. =)
DeleteYours looks just gorgeous! I am jealous of the browned top -- ovens here in Peru just don't have the top element to nicely brown anything. I know what you mean on the dough bow -- I felt like this made me realize that I need lessons in bread shaping. Ha! Great job!
ReplyDeleteYour bread shape looks good!
DeleteIt really is a gorgeous bread. I'm so glad we made this one. For some reason I didn't pay attention to adding a bow. It would have certainly helped to hide the bad part of my braid! Oh well, next time. And I'll definitely have to get the pearl sugar for next time.
ReplyDeleteIt's always nice to justify having purchased something like this =)
DeleteBeautiful pictures!
ReplyDeleteOh thank you so much!
DeleteThe colour on your bread is beautiful and your braid looks so neat compared to mine!! :) I agree.. impressive looking bread!!
ReplyDeleteYour braid looks great! I love your photos!
DeleteYour wreath looks beautiful!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous, gorgeous!!! I have that book. Will definitely check out this recipe. I love cardamom.
ReplyDeleteThanks Hanaa. The cardamom flavor is very subtle. Just right.
DeleteKaren, what a picture perfect looking Finnish Pulla - I am sure that it must have tasted just fabulous! The slivered almonds and the pearl sugar make for a very pretty topping, I agree.
ReplyDeleteThank you Andrea!
DeleteThis recipe made my day...and my Christmas holidays! It is sooo delicious.
ReplyDeleteYour wreath is beautiful, Karen.
Happy holidays
Happy holidays to you!
DeleteThe pearl sugar looks very festive. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI should have abandoned the bow too, yours turned out great! Sounds like it was a big success with some very special boys.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I'm crazy about those boys.
DeleteBeautiful! I had trouble with the bow, too. I will probably not do it next time. My boys really liked this and I may have to try the french toast idea.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Don't you just love boys' unbridled enthusiasm!
DeleteWhat a beautiful wreath and the color is outstanding. No wonder those little boys couldn't get enough!
ReplyDeleteThank you Catherine.
DeleteBeautiful looking bread! Gorgeous color! I should have abandoned the bow, too…it took me longer to make the bow than braid the bread!
ReplyDeleteLol. that's kind of where I was when I gave up!
DeleteYour bread looks wonderful - those are two lucky boys!
ReplyDeleteYour loaf is beautiful! I had issues with the bow as well. We really enjoyed this recipe.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful loaf. My bow looks good, but it is only because I used a small amount of dough to make it. Had I followed the recipe, the bow would have looked like a pretzel too.
ReplyDelete