Best Finnish Bread Recipes

FINNISH CARDAMOM BREAD (NISU)

Steps:

• Brush a large bowl with butter. In a small bowl, combine yeast and water. In another bowl, whisk together flour, cardamom, and salt.
• In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat granulated sugar with egg on medium-high until pale and fluffy, 2 minutes. Reduce speed to low; add evaporated milk and yeast mixture and beat well. Switch to bread-hook attachment. Add flour mixture; mix until a shaggy dough forms. Continue to mix on medium-low, scraping sides of bowl and removing dough from hook a few times, until soft and pliable, 8 to 10 minutes. Mix in butter, 1 tablespoonat a time, until combined.Continue mixing until onlya sheen of butter slicks bowl.
• Transfer dough to a clean surface; knead a few times to form into a ball. Transfer to preparedlarge bowl; cover top with plastic wrap. (Dough can be made to this point and refrigerated up to 1 day.) Let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, 60 to 90 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Punch down dough; divide into 4 equal pieces and cover with a clean towel. Remove one piece; roll into a 1-inch-thick, 18-inch-long rope. Repeat with remaining pieces.
• To make a 4-rope braid, lay ropes evenly side by side, then pinch at the top to connect. Take rope farthest to the right and cross it over second rope, so it is now the second rope. Take ropefarthest to the left and cross it over third rope, then take second rope and cross it over third.Repeat pattern to create a 12-inch-long loaf. Tuck ends and sides under; transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and cover with a clean towel. Let rise in a warm place until not quite doubled in size, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Whisk yolk and whole milk to combine. Brush loaf with egg wash; sprinkle with pearl sugarand almonds. Bake, rotating once, until evenly golden and a thermometer inserted in center registers between 205 degrees and 210 degrees, 30 to 40 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely before slicing. Nisu is best the same day, but can be wrapped in plastic at room temperature up to 1 day.

FINNISH PULLA BREAD

Steps:

• Warm the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Let cool until lukewarm.
• Dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Stir in the lukewarm milk, sugar, salt, cardamom, 4 eggs, and enough flour to make a batter (approximately 2 cups). Beat until the dough is smooth and elastic. Add about 3 cups of the flour and beat well; the dough should be smooth and glossy in appearance. Add the melted butter or margarine, and stir well. Beat again until the dough looks glossy. Stir in the remaining flour until the dough is stiff.
• Turn out of bowl onto a floured surface, cover with an inverted mixing bowl, and let rest for 15 minutes. Knead the dough until smooth and satiny. Place in a lightly greased mixing bowl, and turn the dough to grease the top. Cover with a clean dishtowel. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour. Punch down, and let rise again until almost doubled.
• Turn out again on to a floured surface, and divide into 3 parts. Divide each third into 3 again. Roll each piece into a 12 to 16 inch strip. Braid 3 strips into a loaf. You should get 3 large braided loaves. Lift the braids onto greased baking sheets. Let rise for 20 minutes.
• Brush each loaf with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar.
• Bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 25 to 30 minutes. Check occasionally because the bottom burns easily.

FINNISH BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add whole wheat flour, 2 tablespoons of butter, brown sugar, salt and 2 cups of flour; beat until smooth. Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch the dough down. Shape into two 6-in. rounds; place on a greased baking sheet. Cut slashes in top with a knife. Cover and let rise in warm place until doubled, about 40 minutes. , Bake at 400° for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. Brush with remaining butter.

FINNISH NISU - SWEET BREAD

Steps:

• Dissolve the yeast in the warm water.
• Stir in the milk, sugar, salt, cardamon, eggs and enough flour to make a batter (approx. 2 cups).
• Beat until dough is smooth and elastic.
• Add about 3 cups of flour and beat well.
• Dough should be smooth and glossy in appearance.
• Add remaining flour 1 cup at a time until dough is stiff.
• Add the butter; beat until dough looks glossy again.
• Turn out onto floured board, cover with inverted bowl.
• Let rest for 15 minutes.
• Knead until smooth and satiny.
• Place in lightly greased bowl, turn dough to grease top, cover lightly and let rise in warm place- until doubled in size.
• Punch down; let rise again.
• Turn out onton a lightly floured board, divide into 3 parts, and divide each part into 3.
• Shape each piece of dough into a strip 16 inches long by rolling between palms and board.
• Braid 3 strips together into a straight loaf and pinch ends together and tuck under.
• Repeat for second and third loafs.
• Place on lightly greased baking sheets.
• Let rise until puffy (1/2 to 1 hour).
• Glaze loaves with a mixture of beaten egg and milk.
• Sprinkle with sugar and sliced almonds.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
• Do not overbake- or bread will be dry.

NISU BREAD (FINNISH SWEET BREAD) -(ABM)

Steps:

• Place in bread machine in order given.
• Set machine for light setting.
• Serve with butter and jam.
• Enjoy with coffee.

RIESKA (FINNISH QUICK FLAT RYE BREAD)

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients, as if you were mixing for a pie crust.
• Dough will be soft.
• Roll out to about 1/2 inch thickness.
• Bake for 10 minutes at 475 degrees.

FINNISH COFFEE BREAD (TRADITIONAL)

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in warm water in a large bowl.
• Stir in milk, sugar, salt, cardamom, 4 eggs, and 2 cups of flour.
• Stir until dough is smooth.
• Add 3 cups of flour and stir well.
• Stir in melted butter or margarine.
• Stir in 2-3 cups more flour or until you have a stiff dough.
• Turn dough out onto a floured bread board and cover with inverted bowl.
• Let rest for 15 minutes.
• Knead dough until smooth and satiny (8-10 minutes).
• Place dough in large lightly greased bowl, turning to grease top.
• Cover with plastic wrap and/or towel.
• Let dough rise in a warm place until doubled (1-2 hours).
• Punch dough down.
• Let dough rise again until almost double (30 minutes- 1 hour).
• Turn out onto floured board.
• Divide dough into thirds, working with only one third at a time.
• Divide (one- third of dough) into three parts.
• With your hands roll each part into one 18"strand.
• Braid the three stands together to form one braid, tucking ends under.
• Place on lightly greased cookie sheet.
• Let rise 20-30 minutes until puffy.
• Repeat with other two parts (each one-third of original dough).
• You will have three braids when finished.
• Brush braids with beaten egg and sprinkle with sugar.
• Bake in 400°F oven for 20-30 minutes or until braids are light brown.

FINNISH COFFEE BREAD (BREADMAKER RECIPE)

Steps:

• Put all the ingredients in the bread machine on the dough setting, in the order specified for your machine.
• When the dough cycle completes, remove, divide in half and then split each part into 3 equal pieces.
• Roll into long strands (18" long), and braid strands into 2 loaves.
• Put loaves on greased cookie sheets.
• Let rise until doubled in size (30 minutes). Brush with second egg and sprinkle with sugar.
• Bake at 375°F for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
• Immediately after taking them out of the oven, remove from pans. Cool on racks.

FINNISH SWEET CARDAMOM RAISIN BREAD

Steps:

• Soak raisins in hot tap water to cover until plump, about 20 minutes, then drain.
• Meanwhile, stir together warm water, yeast, and a pinch of sugar in a small bowl. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. (If yeast doesn't foam, start over with new yeast.)
• Stir together flour, sugar, cardamom, and salt in a large bowl, then blend in butter with a pastry blender or your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in milk, whole egg, and yeast mixture with a wooden spoon until a soft dough forms. Turn dough out onto a well-floured surface and knead, dusting surface and hands with just enough flour to keep dough from sticking, until dough is smooth and elastic, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Pat dough into a 9-inch square and sprinkle with raisins. Fold dough over to enclose raisins and pinch edges to seal. Knead, dusting surface and hands lightly with flour, until raisins are distributed. (Dough will be lumpy and slightly sticky; if any raisins pop out, just push them back in.) Form dough into a ball.
• Put dough in a buttered large bowl and turn to coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel and let dough rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled, 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
• Punch down dough (do not knead), then halve. Cut each half into thirds and roll each piece into a 15-inch rope. Braid together 3 ropes to form a loaf, then transfer to a parchment-lined large baking sheet, tucking ends under. Make another loaf with remaining 3 ropes, arranging loaves 4 inches apart. Loosely cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
• Brush loaves with egg wash and bake until golden brown and bottoms sound hollow when tapped, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool.

FINNISH "COFFEE BREAD" FOR THE BREAD MACHINE

Steps:

• 1. This recipe is for the bread machine. I have the "Breadman Ultimate" machine, used for this recipe. Add the yeast to the warm water. Stir until dissolved. Add milk and stir. In a separate bowl, beat one of the eggs with the sugar. Stir in the yeast mixture, salt and cardamom. Pour all this into the bread machine.
• 2. Add the flour. Pour your raisins into the "Extras" compartment. Set your machine on the "Fruit and Nut" setting for a 2 lb. loaf with Extras. Crust setting should be Medium. Turn machine on. Watch as it mixes. You will probably have to add more flour because the dough will be a bit runny. Add enough flour to make it a little thicker than cake batter consistency. It will not form a ball around the paddle!
• 3. Beat the other egg and brush the loaf with this mixture when it comes out of the machine. You may sprinkle some sugar over the top also, if you wish. Serve with butter, jam, honey - your preference. Enjoy.

FINNISH SWEET CARDAMOM RAISIN BREAD (PULLA)

Steps:

• Soak raisins in hot tap water to cover until plump, about 20 minutes, then drain.
• Meanwhile, stir together warm water, yeast, and a pinch of sugar in a small bowl. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. (If yeast doesn't foam, start over with new yeast.)
• Stir together flour, sugar, cardamom, and salt in a large bowl, then blend in butter with a pastry blender or your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal.
• Stir in milk, whole egg, and yeast mixture with a wooden spoon until a soft dough forms. Turn dough out onto a well-floured surface and knead, dusting surface and hands with just enough flour to keep dough from sticking, until dough is smooth and elastic, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Pat dough into a 9-inch square and sprinkle with raisins. Fold dough over to enclose raisins and pinch edges to seal. Knead, dusting surface and hands lightly with flour, until raisins are distributed. (Dough will be lumpy and slightly sticky; if any raisins pop out, just push them back in.) Form dough into a ball.
• Put dough in a buttered large bowl and turn to coat. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel and let dough rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled, 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
• Punch down dough (do not knead), then halve.
• Cut each half into thirds and roll each piece into a 15-inch rope. Braid together 3 ropes to form a loaf, then transfer to a parchment-lined large baking sheet, tucking ends under.
• Make another loaf with remaining 3 ropes, arranging loaves 4 inches apart. Loosely cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
• Brush loaves with egg wash and bake until golden brown and bottoms sound hollow when tapped, 40 to 45 minutes.
• Transfer to a rack to cool.
• Cooks' note: Bread can be made 2 days ahead and kept, wrapped well, at room temperature or frozen 1 month.

RIESKA - FINNISH POTATO FLAT BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Mix all ingredients in a bowl and divide the dough into 4 portions.
• Place the portions on a baking tray lined with baking paper and flatten each portion with flour dusted fingers into round disks.
• Prick the breads with a fork and bake for 15 minutes. Serve warm with butter, smoked salmon and fresh dill.

FINNISH PULLA BREAD - BREAD MACHINE RECIPE - (4.4/5)

Steps:

• Beat eggs with sugar. In a small saucepan (or in the microwave), warm the milk, and melt the butter in the warm milk. Add cardamom, vanilla and salt. Mix above ingredients until well blended and pour liquids in bottom of the bread machine pan. (Note: Follow your individual bread machine instructions as to adding ingredients. But do not mix salt with yeast. Salt will negate the action of the yeast.) Add the flour, make a small dent in flour and place yeast in dent. Set machine on dough setting. Preheat oven to 350°F. When cycle is finished, remove dough and cut into two pieces. Cut each of the two pieces into three pieces for braids. Braid dough and shape. Let rise until about double. Brush on Eggbeaters and sprinkle with coarse sugar. (make an egg wash by beating one egg with one teaspoon of water. Brush on, then sprinkle with sugar.) Bake 15 to 20 minutes, until bread has risen and the loaves are golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

FINNISH PULLA BREAD

Steps:

• DIRECTIONS: 1. Warm the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Let cool until lukewarm. 2. Dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Stir in the lukewarm milk, sugar, salt, cardamom, 4 eggs, and enough flour to make a batter (approximately 2 cups). Beat until the dough is smooth and elastic. Add about 3 cups of the flour and beat well; the dough should be smooth and glossy in appearance. Add the melted butter or margarine, and stir well. Beat again until the dough looks glossy. Stir in the remaining flour until the dough is stiff. 3. Turn out of bowl onto a floured surface, cover with an inverted mixing bowl, and let rest for 15 minutes. Knead the dough until smooth and satiny. Place in a lightly greased mixing bowl, and turn the dough to grease the top. Cover with a clean dishtowel. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour. Punch down, and let rise again until almost doubled. 4. Turn out again on to a floured surface, and divide into 3 parts. Divide each third into 3 again. Roll each piece into a 12 to 16 inch strip. Braid 3 strips into a loaf. You should get 3 large braided loaves. Lift the braids onto greased baking sheets. Let rise for 20 minutes. 5. Brush each loaf with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar. 6. Bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 25 to 30 minutes. Check occasionally because the bottom burns easily.

FINNISH FLAT BREAD

Steps:

• Combine dry ingredients.
• Cut in shortning, until course crumbs.
• Add milk; mix just until dough is wet.
• Knead on floured surface 5-6 times.
• Pat onto ungreased 12in pizza pan.
• Bake at 350* for 30 minutes, until golden.
• Cool.

RIESKA (FINNISH QUICK FLAT RYE BREAD)

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients, as if you were mixing for a pie crust.
• Dough will be soft.
• Roll out to about 1/2 inch thickness.
• Bake for 10 minutes at 475 degrees.

GRANDMA G'S FINNISH RYE/GRAHAM BREAD (BREAD MACHINE)

Steps:

• 1. Add the wet ingredients to your bread machine (water, oil, honey). Next add the salt, potato flakes and oats.
• 2. Into a measuring cup, put the rye flour and graham flour. Add enough regular bread flour to make 3 1/2 cups. Pour this into the bread machine on top of the wet ingredients.
• 3. Make a "well" in the flour mixture and add the yeast. Use the "whole wheat" cycle on your machine, 2 pound loaf, dark crust. Turn the machine on and you will have a delicious loaf in a little over 3 hours. NOTE: WATCH THE CONSISTENCY of the mixture as it mixes. If it seems too dry, add one tablespoon of water at a time until the dough forms a "ball" around the paddle. If it is too wet, add one tablespoon of flour at a time.

NISU BREAD (FINNISH SWEET BREAD) -(ABM)

Steps:

• Place in bread machine in order given.
• Set machine for light setting.
• Serve with butter and jam.
• Enjoy with coffee.

FINNISH CARDAMOM BREAD

Steps:

• 1. Combine the butter and milk in a medium saucepan and heat until the butter is melted. Cool to lukewarm, then whisk in the yeast. Add 2 1/2 cups flour and beat until the batter is smooth. Let the mixture stand 1/2 hour, or until a bubbling action starts. Beat in the eggs, sugar, salt and cardamom. Blend in approximately 3 1/2 cups flour, adding more if necessary. Knead thoroughly for 10 minutes. Place the dough in a large buttered bowl, turning it in the bowl so the dough is buttered on all sides. Cover with a towel or plastic rap and let rise until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours. 2. Divide the dough in half and cut each half in thirds to form 2 braided loaves (or shape into 2 regular loaves). Place dough on greased cookie sheets and let rise until tripled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours. 3. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350F. Bake the bread for 45 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack set over waxed paper. 4. In a small bowl, combine the glaze ingredients, stirring until smooth. Pour the glaze over the breads while still warm. Cool complelety.

FINNISH CARDAMOM BREAD

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in bread machine in order given.
• Bake on white bread cycle with light crust.