Finnish Nissua Recipe

• 2 cups Milk
• ½ cup Margarine
• 1 cup White Sugar
• 1 tsp Salt
• 2 (0.25 oz) packages active dry Yeast
• ½ cup Warm Water (110 °F/ 45 °C)
• 3 Eggs
• 1 tsp Cardamom (ground)
• 7½ cups Bread Flour
• 2 tbsp Butter (softened)
• 1 cup Confectioners' Sugar
• ½ tsp Vanilla Extract
• 2 tsp Milk

• Pour milk in a small saucepan and heat it till it bubbles. Remove from heat.
• Add margarine, white sugar and salt to the milk. Mix well to melt the ingredients.
• Allow the mixture to cool to lukewarm.
• Combine yeast and warm water in a small bowl. Stir to dissolve the yeast. Let it stand for 10 minutes till it turns creamy.
• Transfer the milk mixture into a large bowl.
• Add eggs, 1½ cups bread flour, cardamom and yeast mixture. Beat the mixture well. Cover the bowl and allow it to stand for 20 to 30 minutes till it turns bubbly.
• Add the remaining 6 cups of flour, ½ cup at a time. Beat well after each addition.
• Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead till it is smooth and supple, for about 8 minutes.
• Oil a large bowl lightly. Place the dough into the bowl and turn to coat all the sides.
• Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let it rise for about 1 hour till it has doubled in volume.
• Transfer the dough back to the floured surface and divide it into 3 equal pieces.
• Divide each piece into thirds.
• Roll out the pieces between hands to form long logs.
• Braid 3 pieces together to form a loaf.
• Repeat with the other pieces.
• Place the braided loaves on a lightly greased baking sheet.
• Preheat oven to 350 °F (175 °C).
• Allow the loaves to rise for 40 minutes till they have nearly doubled.
• Bake the loaves for 30 minutes till they turn golden brown.
• Remove and transfer onto a wire rack. Cool them completely.
• Take a small bowl and combine together butter and confectioners' sugar.
• Add in vanilla extract and milk. Mix well to form frosting of spreadable consistency.
• Spread the frosting over the cooled bread.