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Julekake
Cardamom raisin Christmas bread
Julekake: Norway's cardamom Christmas bread with raisins and candied peel
Julekake is the Christmas bread of Norway, baked in the days before Christmas Eve and eaten for breakfast on Christmas morning, sliced and spread with butter and brown goat's cheese (brunost). It is a soft, round, golden loaf enriched with milk and butter, perfumed with freshly ground cardamom and dotted with raisins and candied citrus peel. It is plain enough to enjoy every day of the holidays, and leftovers make wonderful toast. Chef's tip: crush whole cardamom seeds yourself just before baking; ready-ground cardamom loses its scent within weeks.
- Total time
- 65 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups milk
- 2 ⅞ oz butter
- 1 ¼ lb strong white flour
- 2 ⅞ oz caster sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 ½ tsp cardamom seedsfreshly crushed
- 1 egg
- 3 ½ oz raisins
- 2 ⅝ oz candied mixed peel
- 1 eggbeaten, to glaze
- 2 tbsp pearl sugar (optional)optional
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Method
0/6 doneStep 2: Mix 1 ¼ lb strong white flour, ⅓ oz fast-action dried yeast, 2 ⅞ oz caster sugar, 1 tsp salt and 1 ½ tsp cardamom seeds. Add the milk mixture and 1 egg and knead for 10 minutes to a soft, smooth, elastic dough.
10 minStep 3: Cover and leave in a warm place for 1 hour, until doubled.
Step 4: Knead in 3 ½ oz raisins and 2 ⅝ oz candied mixed peel, shape into a tight ball and set on a lined tray. Flatten slightly, cover and leave for 40 minutes until puffy.
Step 5: Brush with 1 egg and sprinkle with 2 tbsp pearl sugar if using. Bake at 350°F (325°F fan) for 30–35 minutes, until deep golden and hollow-sounding underneath. A common mistake is adding the fruit at the start, which tears the dough and stops it rising well.
35 minStep 6: Cool on a rack, covered with a tea towel to keep the crust soft.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 290 kcal
- Protein
- 7 g
- Carbs
- 46 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does julekake take?
- About 65 minutes in total: 30 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of milk?
- Oat, soy or almond milk, same amount (use unsweetened for savoury dishes).
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
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Perfect for:Christmas