Holiday Coffee

• 2 packages rapid-rise yeast
• sugar
• 1/2 cup warm water (105 to 115 degrees)
• 5 3/4 to 6 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon cardamom
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 1 cup lukewarm milk
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 large egg yolk, at room temperature

1. Make dough: Sprinkle yeast and a pinch of sugar over warm water in measuring cup.
2. Stir.
3. Let stand just until foamy, 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, whisk together 2 cups flour, 1/2 cup sugar, salt and cardamom in large bowl.
5. With pastry blender or 2 knives, cut butter into flour mixture until coarse crumbs form.
6. Whisk together lukewarm milk, 2 eggs and egg yolk in medium bowl until blended: whisk in other ingredients and knead.
7. Let rise.
8. Press one piece of dough into a 16 X 9 inch rectangle onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
9. Cut twelve 1-inch strips of dough along each side of filling.
10. Gently stretch strips across filling; alternating side to side and pressing gently. Roll two 16-inch-long ropes of dough.
11. Join one end of ropes and twist together: arrange down center of loaf.

rapidrise, sugar, warm water, flour, salt, cardamom, butter, milk, eggs, egg yolk

Taken from www.cookbooks.com/Recipe-Details.aspx?id=41757 (may not work)