Julekake: recipe for Norwegian Christmas bread with raisins

October 31, 2026

Julekake is the smell of December: cardamom, butter and raisins. This Norwegian Christmas bread is easier than many think, and it can be baked early and frozen for Christmas.

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Short answer: Knead a yeast dough with milk, butter, sugar and cardamom. Add raisins and candied peel last. Let the dough rise for 1 hour, shape a round loaf, prove for 30 to 40 minutes and bake at 180 °C for 30 to 35 minutes.

What you need

For 1 large julekake:

500 g white bread flour
75 g sugar
1 tsp ground cardamom
½ tsp salt
25 g fresh yeast or 7 g dried yeast
250 g lukewarm milk
75 g soft butter
100 g raisins
75 g candied peel
1 egg for brushing

Method

Stir the yeast into the milk. If you use dried yeast, mix it into the flour.
Mix the flour, sugar, cardamom and salt, and add the milk.
Knead the dough for about 5 minutes. Add the butter a little at a time and knead for about 5 more minutes, until the dough is glossy and leaves the bowl clean.
Knead in the raisins and peel last, so they are not crushed.
Cover and let the dough rise for about 1 hour, until doubled.
Shape a round loaf and put it on a tray with baking paper. Prove for 30 to 40 minutes.
Brush with beaten egg and bake low in the oven at 180 °C for 30 to 35 minutes.
If the loaf gets too dark, lay baking paper loosely over it for the last few minutes.
Let the loaf cool completely on a rack.

Don't like candied peel?

Swap it for more raisins, or use grated orange zest. You get the citrus flavour without the pieces.

Bake ahead

Julekake is best quite fresh. To have it ready for Christmas, freeze it the same day you bake, once it is completely cold. Thaw it in the bag and give it a few minutes in the oven. The full Advent plan is in Christmas baking ahead of time.

How to keep it moist

Put the loaf in the bread bag and put the bag in the fridge. Cut off what you need and put the rest back. Freeze what you won't eat in time, in the same bag. You will find more Christmas breads in Christmas breads: types and how long they keep.

Bivoks™ bread bag299 NOK

Measures 30.5 × 43 cm, with plenty of room for a large julekake. Can go in the freezer.

See the bread bag →

Bake & Keep519 NOK

Proofing basket and Bivoks™ bread bag in one set, a lovely gift for someone who loves to bake.

See Bake & Keep →

Frequently asked questions

Can julekake be frozen?

Yes. Freeze it the same day you bake, once it is completely cold. Slices can go straight in the toaster.

When should I bake julekake?

Any time during Advent, if you freeze it. Without a freezer, bake it a couple of days before Christmas.

Why did my julekake turn out dry?

Usually it was baked too long, or the dough got too much flour. The dough should be soft.

Can I bake julekake in a tin?

Yes. Put the dough in a greased tin and let it prove there. The baking time stays about the same.

Giving it away? See baking gifts for Christmas.

Once the loaf is out of the oven

The Bivoks™ bread bag goes from fridge to freezer, and you use it all year.