Swedish Coffee Loaves

• 2 packages (2 tablespoons) yeast
• 1/4 cup lukewarm water
• 5 tablespoons butter
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons crushed cardamom seeds, or 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup milk, scalded
• 1 egg
• 3 1/2 to 4 cups flour
• 3/4 cup raisins
• Beaten egg for glaze

1. Soften the yeast in the lukewarm water.
2. Mix together the butter, sugar, cardamom, salt and hot milk.
3. Cool until lukewarm.
4. Add the egg, softened yeast and 2 1/2 cups of the flour.
5. Beat thoroughly.
6. Add enough of the remaining flour, a little at a time, to make a soft dough.
7. Set a little aside for kneading.
8. Turn the dough out on a lightly floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
9. Place dough in a lightly buttered bowl, turning once to grease the surface.
10. Cover and let rise in a warm place for about 1 1/2 hours, until doubled in bulk.
11. When light, punch down, turn out on a lightly floured surface and knead lightly.
12. Mix the raisins with the dough and divide the mixture into 2 parts.
13. Cut each half into 3 pieces of equal size.
14. Roll the pieces into long ropes and braid 3 ropes together for each loaf.
15. Place the loaves on a buttered cookie sheet.
16. Cover with a towel and let rise again in a warm place for about 45 minutes, until doubled in bulk.
17. Preheat the oven to 375F.
18. Brush the loaves with beaten egg; sprinkle with sugar and chopped nuts if desired.
19. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

yeast, water, butter, sugar, cardamom seeds, salt, milk, egg, flour, raisins, glaze

Taken from www.cookstr.com/recipes/swedish-coffee-loaves (may not work)