How to Make Your Own Delicious Finnish Pulla Bread

scandinaviastandard ^

[mylife]

Most people are familiar with Swedish cinnamon buns or the Danish “danish” (they’re called weinerbrød in Denmark). But unless you’ve been to Finland, you’ve probably never heard of pullapitko.

Pullapitko, or pulla bread, is a cardamom-spiced sweet loaf that can be found from the north to the south of Finland. It’s like if a buttery brioche and a challah had a love-child; it’s mixed with loads of milk and butter (courtesy of a brioche father) and woven like challah (thanks, Mom!). For the record, there does not seem to be a relationship between the three breads but isn’t this the kind of cross-cultural culinary romance that the world desperately needs?! We think so.

Let’s go through the history of pulla bread and how to make it!

WHAT IS FINNISH PULLA BREAD? Before we dive into the specifics, it’s important to cover the nomenclature first. Pulla is actually an umbrella term in Finnish. It directly translates to “bun” and refers to any yeast-leavened bread made with wheat flour and sugar. There are different kinds of pullia – the plural of pulla – like voisilmäpulla, also known as the “butter eyed bun,” pikkupulla and laskiaispulla, the Finnish cream filled Shrovetide treat. But, the queen of them all is pullapitko (also formerly known as “nisu”) – a braided bread that’s become the everyday companion to a Finn’s cup of joe.

Unlike other Scandi sweets, pullapitko isn’t flavored with cinnamon or vanilla. Instead, it’s kneaded with a “secret” aromatic ingredient (more on that next). Prior to going in the oven, the loaf is brushed generously with an egg wash – or sometimes, strong coffee – and is topped with almond slivers and crunchy pearlized sugar.

There’s one ingredient that makes Finnish pulla bread something special: lots and lots of cardamom.

[dennisw]

Finnish rye bread is the best. Same for Ukrainian rye bread.

[mylife]

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