Sweet Yeasted Bread (Vetebröd) Recipe

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  • 2 hrs 40 mins
  • Prep: 2 hrs 15 mins,
  • Cook: 25 mins
  • Yield: 2 braided loaves (16 servings)
Ratings (19)

By Kari Diehl

Updated 03/27/18

Lightly spiced and far less sweet than most store-bought coffee breads, Swedish Vetebröd serves as a satisfying snack to pair with your favorite brand of coffee.

What You'll Need

  • 2 1/2 cups milk
  • 1 1/2 cups butter (melted)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 2 tsp. 
  • cardamom (freshly ground from about 25 cardamom pods)
  • 2 pkg./4 1/2 tsp. dry active yeast
  • 9 cups flour (all-purpose, or bread flour)
  • 1 egg (plus 2 tbsp. water, lightly beaten together into an egg wash)
  • pearl sugar (or crushed sugar cubes) and / or chopped or slivered almonds

How to Make It

  1. Prepare your basic cardamom bread dough using the first 7 ingredients listed above (this takes about 1 1/2 hours).
  2. After punching down dough following its first rise, remove from bowl and knead lightly on a floured counter until smooth and shiny. Divide dough into two halves.
  3. Divide each half of the dough into three equal portions. Roll each portion into a long, thin “snake” (about 18 inches long). Braid three of the “snakes” together, folding and pinching outer edges under to form a loaf shape. Repeat for the second set of three dough “snakes.” (Alternative: Do not divide dough into 2 halves, but separate entire mass into three equal portions. Roll the three portions into “snakes,” braid together, then join and pinch ends together to form a single braided bread wreath).
  1. Place the two braided loaves (or the single braided wreath) on a greased baking sheet, cover with a towel, and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 375º.
  2. When loaves (or wreath) have doubled, brush with egg wash and sprinkle with pearl sugar and/or almonds. Place in the middle of a preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes, or until done.
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
Calories 259
Total Fat 20 g
Saturated Fat 12 g
Unsaturated Fat 6 g
Cholesterol 63 mg
Sodium 258 mg
Carbohydrates 19 g
Dietary Fiber 1 g
Protein 3 g
(The nutrition information on our recipes is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. Individual results may vary.)