A traditional recipe for Pulla – a buttery Finnish Cardamom Bread that tastes and smells heavenly. Think of this as Finnish Coffee bread-perfect for mornings or afternoon tea. This makes 2 extra-large braided loaves, feel free to halve the recipe. Allow 3 hours rising time (30 mins hands-on time)
Prior to going in the oven, the loaf is brushed generously with an egg wash – or sometimes, strong coffee – and is topped with almond slivers and crunchy pearlized sugar. What’s the secret to a delicious Finnish pullapitko? There’s one ingredient that makes Finnish pulla bread something special: lots and lots of cardamom.
Pulla is a traditional Finnish cardamom bread. The braided look of this sweet bread recipe makes a stunning treat for the holidays, whether for breakfast or for afternoon tea. The delightful cardamom scent really warms the soul during the winter holidays. My mother-in-law, Diane, has a Scandinavian heritage.
The star ingredient in Pulla is cardamom seeds. In this recipe, you can use the seeds, or if pressed for time, ground Cardamom is a great substitute. It is a very ancient spice originating in Southern India where it still grows wild.