Holiday Braided Bread

Mix yeast, milk, and 2 tsp sugar. Cover with a paper towel and soak 5-10 minutes.

Mix 5 cups flour, remaining sugar, salt, cardamom, butter, and eggs. Add yeast mixture.

Knead in remaining flour as needed until soft and elastic.

Pinch dough into two sections and shape into rolls or loaves. Let rise until double in size.

Bake 20-25 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

To braid: Roll loaf into a long rectangle with a rolling pin. Spread about 1/2 cup filling in a stripe from top to bottom (the long way). Using kitchen shears cut the long edges into strips, about an inch wide each with a corresponding strip on the opposite edges. Fold strips across the filling back and forth. Tuck the ends under the "braid." Let rise, bake, and serve.