Warm milk, melt butter in the milk, cool to lukewarm, and add the yeast. Beat eggs, sugar and a pinch of salt together in a large bowl. Crush the cardamom seeds and reserve. Add the milk mixture. Add the cardamom. Mix in the flour. Knead on floured surface 1-2 minutes. Place dough in buttered glass bowl, cover with a tea towel, and let rise in a warm place until double in size (~ 60 minutes). Once dough has risen, place on floured surface and knead 2-4 minutes. Place back in the bowl and let rise for another 60 minutes in warm place.

You are now ready to make 2 braided loaves. Remove dough from warm place, briefly knead, then divide dough in half (i.e. to make two loaves). Divide each half into three equal pieces. Roll each piece into a long roll (~18 inches long). Join each set of three rolls at one end and braid the three pieces together. Place both loaves on a greased cookie sheet, cover with a tea towel, and let rise in a warm place for ~45 minutes until double in size.

Place tray with the bread on the counter and remove the tea towel, while heating the oven to 350 degrees. Once the oven is at 350 degrees, place the tray with the bread into the oven and bake for 45 minutes. Remove the tray. Brush the top or each loaf with a little warmed milk and butter, then sprinkle raw sugar crystals on top.

Enjoy!!