Swedish - Sweet Coffee Bread

Combine milk and butter in a saucepan and heat until lukewarm (105 to 115 degrees). Pour into a mixing bowl. Add eggs, sugar, salt, yeast, crushed cardamom, and 1 cup King Arthur flour. Beat for 2 minutes with an electric beater. Gradually add the remaining flour, stirring by hand (or using a dough hook) until the dough no longer sticks to the sides of the bowl.

Place dough on a board and knead for 8 to 10 minutes by hand or 5 minutes with a dough hook. Let it rise in a greased bowl until double in bulk. Punch down the dough and divide it in half. Cut each half into 3 pieces, roll each piece into a rope, and braid. (Alternatively, form the loaves without braiding). Place loaves in 2 greased bread pans (or use a Silpat). Brush the tops of the loaves with egg whites and sprinkle with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar or pearl sugar. Let rise again until double in bulk. Bake in a preheated 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for about 30 minutes. For a convection oven, bake for about 12 minutes.