Norsk Julekake/Julekage (Norwegian Christmas Bread)
This is my great grandmother's recipe for Norwegian Christmas Bread — a sweet, spiced bread filled with dried fruit. The recipe makes four loaves. My family comes from the very south/west of Norway where "kake" is called "kage."
Ingredients
- 2 pkgs yeast
- 3 cups milk
- 1/3 cup lukewarm water
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup currants
- 1/2 cup butter
- 8 cups all purpouse flour
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/2 cup chopped citron
- 3/4 cup chopped raisins
- 1/2 cup candied cherries
- 1/2 tsp cardamom
Instructions
- Dissolve yeast in lukewarm water
- Scald milk and pour over butter
- When cooled to lukewarm, add yeast and sugar
- Add half of the flour and all of the salt and beat for 10 minutes
- Add eggs, one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition (electric beater may be used)
- Add fruit and remaining flour
- Knead and place in greased bowl to rise
- Cover and set in warm place to rise
- When dough has doubled, knead again
- Let rise until light
- Shape into four loaves and place into greased pans
- Brush tops of loaves with egg white, slighty beaten
- When doubled in bulk, bake in moderate oven (325º F)
- Remove from oven, brush with melted butter, and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon
Notes
Make the recipe your own by modifying the fruit you add.
Great Grandma’s substitutions:
1 1/4 cups currants, omitting raisins and 1/2 cup mixed candied fruit instead of citron
or
1 cup mixed candied fruit, omitting citron and cherries
1/2 cup chopped nutmeats
