Julekake

Julekake is a traditional Norwegian Christmas cake. We’ve had one on Christmas morning for as long as I can remember, usually store bought and always delicious. Store bought until I forgot to order one and was forced to make my own – or go without.

Oh the horror!!

We simply could not have Christmas morning without a julekake, so after consulting with older relatives in the know I managed to find a quick and easy julekake recipe.

Fruit Jewels

The Julekake – jewel cake – is a sweet bread with candied fruit inside. It’s a simple yeast bread recipe that fills the home with the glorious aroma of holiday warmth. I use candied fruit – the kind you’d use for a fruitcake and can find in the baking section in just about any grocery store. These are brightly colored cherries, dates and mixed peels and make for a colorful bread. Alternatively you can use raisins and currants for a less colorful julekake. Nuts can also be added, but there’s someone with a nut allergy in the family so we skip the nuts.

To glaze or not to glaze?

I glaze my julekake, because that’s how they come from the store, but you can leave yours glaze free. A glaze of confectioners sugar is super easy to make, I just use this one from Pillsbury.

In this Scandihoovian home we serve the julekake with coffee, a pre-breakfast treat enjoyed while kids are unwrapping gifts from Santa. One loaf feeds gobs of people and most little kids don’t want anything to do with it for reasons I will never understand – even though I shunned it as a child myself.

If this is your first julekake I hope it becomes a tradition in your home.

Merry Christmas!

Print Recipe

Julekake

Keyword

Bread

Servings

Ingredients

• package bread yeast
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 cups milk
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cardamom
• 1 cup candied fruit - diced
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 tablespoons water

Keyword Bread Servings Ingredients package bread yeast 1/4 cup water 1/2 cups milk 1 egg 1/2 cup sugar 3 tablespoons butter 3 1/2 cups flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon cardamom 1 cup candied fruit - diced 1 egg yolk 2 tablespoons water

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl dissolve yeast in warm water. Add all remaining ingredients except for egg yolk and 2 tablespoons water and mix with paddle on mixer until all ingredients are evenly combined and mixed. Place in bowl and allow to rise until doubled.
2. Punch down the dough and shape into a ball. Place ball on cooking sheet and allow to rise again.
3. When dough has doubled in size, brush with egg wash - egg yolk and 2 tablespoons water - bake in 350°F oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
4. Slice, serve with butter and enjoy!