Finnish Butter Cake Food

FINNISH CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cream together the butter, 1/4 cup of the sugar and almond extract. Stir in the flour. Chill for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
• Place the dough between 2 large sheets of plastic wrap. Use a rolling pin to roll into a 1/4-inch thick rectangle. Use a sharp knife to cut the dough into strips 2 1/2 inches long and 3/4 inch wide.
• Combine the remaining tablespoon of sugar with the almonds. Use a pastry brush to coat the top of the cookies with egg white. Sprinkle with the almond and sugar mixture. Carefully transfer cookies to an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake to a delicate brown, 17 to 20 minutes.
• Transfer cookies to a rack to cool. Cookies can be frozen in an airtight container, with wax paper between each layer for up to 6 months. Defrost 30 minutes before serving.

FINNISH CURD CAKE

Steps:

• Butter the baking dish, pie pan, or springform pan until generously coated.
• Sprinkle the crumbs as needed into the pan, then turn the pan around and shake gently, distributing the crumbs along the sides as well.
• The crumbs should completely coat the inside of the pan.
• Chill briefly to set the crumbs and then fill with the desired filling.
• CAKE: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Sift together the flour and baking powder and set aside.
• Press the cottage cheese through a sieve.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs and the sugar until they are frothy.
• Add the spices and fruit rinds.
• Add the cottage cheese and blend all the ingredients well.
• Stir in the butter, then add the dry mixture, mixing well.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared crust and bake for 1 hour.
• NOTE: Again this is more like a quick bread, and you can increase the sugar if you like as this is not particularly sweet.

FINNISH RIBBON CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and 1/2 cup granulated sugar until creamy.
• Beat in egg yolk, vanilla, and lemon peel.
• In a medium mixing bowl, stir together flour and salt.
• Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, blending thoroughly.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (or leave ungreased).
• Shape dough into two logs about 1-inch in diameter and as long as your baking sheets.
• With the side of your little finger, press a long trench - lengthwise - down the center of each log. DO NOT press all the way down to the cookie sheet or your jam will leak out.
• Bake logs for 10 minutes.
• Remove logs from oven and spoon jam into the trenches.
• Return to oven for 5 - 10 minutes or until logs are firm to touch and a light golden brown.
• In a small bowl, combine the confectioner's sugar and lemon juice.
• While cookies are hot, drizzle them with the confectioner's sugar mixture (or spread along the sides of the logs).
• Cut at a 45 degree angle into 1 inch lengths.
• Let cool 5 minutes on baking sheet.
• Transfer to racks and let cool completely.
• Store in single layers in an airtight container.

FINNISH PULLA

Steps:

• Warm the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Let cool until lukewarm.
• Dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Stir in the lukewarm milk, sugar, salt, cardamom, 4 eggs, and enough flour to make a batter (approximately 2 cups). Beat until the dough is smooth and elastic. Add about 3 cups of the flour and beat well; the dough should be smooth and glossy in appearance. Add the melted butter or margarine, and stir well. Beat again until the dough looks glossy. Stir in the remaining flour until the dough is stiff.
• Turn out of bowl onto a floured surface, cover with an inverted mixing bowl, and let rest for 15 minutes. Knead the dough until smooth and satiny. Place in a lightly greased mixing bowl, and turn the dough to grease the top. Cover with a clean dishtowel. Let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour. Punch down, and let rise again until almost doubled.
• Turn out again on to a floured surface, and divide into 3 parts. Divide each third into 3 again. Roll each piece into a 12 to 16 inch strip. Braid 3 strips into a loaf. You should get 3 large braided loaves. Lift the braids onto greased baking sheets. Let rise for 20 minutes.
• Brush each loaf with egg wash and sprinkle with sugar.
• Bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 25 to 30 minutes. Check occasionally because the bottom burns easily.