Braided Cardamom Olive Oil Bread
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Recipe Intro From lisathompson
This fragrant cardamom bread is like a cross between challah and Swedish cardamom buns: eggy, light, and with a tender, cottony crumb, thanks to the substitution of olive oil for the typical butter in the dough. The cardamom flavor comes from a floral, homemade cardamom sugar and an extra hit from ground cardamom. Work the dough into a simple three-strand braid, brush with egg wash, and sprinkle with some more cardamom sugar for a crunch. Pop it in the oven and revel in the sweet aromas that are bound to fill your home. Any leftovers make amazing French toast.
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Recipe Card
ingredients
- 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar or cardamom sugar
- 2/3 cup whole milk or unsweetened flax milk
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Method
Step 1
Bloom yeast with warm water and a pinch of sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer until foamy, about 10 minutes.
Step 2
Meanwhile, heat milk and olive oil in a small saucepan over low heat until warm, then remove from heat and stir in sugar. Add warm milk mixture to bloomed yeast and stir to combine.
Step 3
Add 2 cups flour, salt, and cardamom to the bowl and mix on low using the dough hook attachment until no patches of flour remain. Add 3 eggs and vanilla and stir until incorporated, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add remaining 2 cups flour and stir until a smooth dough forms (dough will be fairly sticky). If the mixture feels too wet, add in more flour 1 tablespoon at a time, up to an additional ¼ cup.
Step 4
Transfer dough to a large, lightly greased bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Allow to rise at room temperature until doubled in size, about 2 hours. Note: if it is below 70F degrees in your kitchen, try proofing the dough inside the oven with the light turned on to create a warmer environment.
Step 5
Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 6
Beat remaining egg in small bowl until frothy.
Step 7
Once dough is doubled in size, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Carefully stretch and fold all four sides in towards the center, then roll into a tight ball. Cut dough into 3 equal pieces, then gently stretch and roll each piece into a 24” strand (Note: if the dough feels tight and springs back after stretching, cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rest for 10 minutes, then proceed). Braid the strands together, tucking the ends under tightly to create a seamless, tapered braid. Carefully transfer braided dough to prepared baking sheet, then cover with a clean kitchen towel and allow to rise for about 45 minutes, until puffy. Once dough is proofed, it should spring back slowly when poked with a lightly floured finger.
Step 8
Brush dough with an even layer of egg wash. Sprinkle with extra sugar or cardamom sugar, if desired. Bake for about 25-30 minutes, rotating halfway through, until bread is a golden brown and sounds hollow when you knock on it. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before slicing and serving. Store bread wrapped tightly in aluminum foil for up to 3 days.