Servings  1giant loaf

Prep Time  30minutes

Cook Time  25-30minutes

Passive Time  2hours

 

Ingredients

For the dough:

4 1/2 - 5cups all-purpose flour

1/2cup sugar

2tsp instant dry yeast

4Tbsp butter, softened

2whole eggs

1Tbsp ground cardamom

4 cardamom pods, shelled and seeds crushed lightly

1/4tsp salt

1 1/4cup milk, warmed

For the filling:

4Tbsp butter, softened

1/4cup brown sugar

1/2tsp ground cinnamon

1/2tsp ground nutmeg

1/2tsp ground cardamom

pinch ground cloves

For the top:

1 egg, beaten

1tsp sugar

 

Instructions

Prepare the dough:

1. Add all ingredients to a large bowl (proof yeast if desired).
2. Mix with a dough hook for 10 minutes on medium speed. This dough cleans the sides of the bowl, but sticks to the bottom until kneaded for the full ten minutes. If after 10 minutes it still hasn’t cleaned the bottom of the bowl, add a bit more flour and mix it in. Let rise for about 1 1/2 hours.

 

For the filling:

1. Mix all ingredients in a small bowl.

 

To assemble:

1. Roll the dough out into a rectangle, about 16″ x 12.” Spread the filling in a strip down the center.

2. Using a pastry cutter, cut strips on each side (you need the same number of strips on each side). Try to keep the cuts about a 3/4 inch from the filling.

3. Cross the strips of dough over in a herringbone pattern. Be sure to lift the sides of dough up as you go. This will give the loaf "walls" to keep the filling from leaking out. If any of your cuts dips down too low, pinch the dough back together or your filling will ooze out.

4. Pinch the last strips and fold them under. Do the same with the other end.

5. Let rise about 20 minutes, then preheat the oven to 350F. Brush liberally with a beaten egg. And sprinkle with a happy snowstorm of sugar.

6. Bake 25-30 minutes NOTE: You could also bake this at 375F, but it darkens up quite a bit faster. Play around and see what works for you. Let cool a few minutes before slicing or it will fall apart.

7. Serve immediately with a cup of hot coffee.

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