How to Make a Swedish Braid

Make quick and easy Swedish braided bread.

Swedish braided bread, or vetebrod, is a lightly sweet, cardamon-infused bread that is traditionally served with coffee, for breakfast or at holiday time. Nearly all Swedish families have their own time-tested version of a vetebrod recipe. While vetebrod recipes are customarily yeast-based and require preparation, kneading and rising time, you can save time and purchase store-bought bread dough and add in sweeteners, crushed cardamon seeds and spices, and then braid the dough in the traditional manner. Does this Spark an idea?

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Large glass bowl
Small amount of flour
2 lbs defrosted bread dough
1/3 cup white sugar
1 1/2 tsp. crushed cardamom seeds
2 tsp chopped raisins
Baking sheet
Cooking spray
Plastic wrap
1/2 cup milk
Pastry brush
2 Tbs. crystallized sugar

Instructions

- 1
  
  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- 2
  
  Dust hands lightly with flour, and place bread dough, sugar, cardamom and raisins into the glass bowl.
- 3
  
  Mix ingredients well, using your hands. Re-dust hands with flour as necessary.
- 4
  
  Divide dough mixture into three equal pieces and gently roll into equal sized ropes.
- 5
  
  Coat baking sheet with a thin layer of cooking spray. Lay ropes side-by-side on the baking sheet.
- 6
  
  Pinch the ropes end together, then braid them. Pinch the ends together.
- 7
  
  Cover the braid loosely with plastic wrap, place the sheet in a warm area of the kitchen, and allow the dough, undisturbed, to rise for 30 -- 45 minutes. Uncover, punch down gently, re-cover and allow dough to stand for an additional 10 to 15 minutes.
- 8
  
  Uncover and discard plastic wrap. Brush a thin cover of milk over the top of the braid. Sprinkle generously with crystallized sugar.
- 9
  
  Place in oven and bake for 30 -- 40 minutes, or until braid is golden brown.