laitteellesi

Laitteellesi is a traditional Finnish bread typically served at Christmas time. The bread is made from a yeast dough that is mixed with milk, butter, and various other ingredients, resulting in a rich and flaky texture.

Laitteellesi is a type of halla, a traditional Finnish countryside flatbread. Its unique ingredient composition and leavening properties set it apart from other types of flatbread. One of the characteristic features of laitteellesi is its sweet and airy interior, contrasting with the crispy, golden-brown exterior.

The making of laitteellesi involves a multi-step process, starting from preparing the yeast dough, to proofing, shaping, and baking the bread. It typically takes several hours to prepare and bake laitteellesi, reflecting the time and effort that Finnish housewives traditionally dedicated to baking a variety of pastries for special occasions.

In Finnish Christmas traditions, laitteellesi is often served buttered, offering a classic combination of flavors and textures. Because of its unique and rich taste, it is also often served alongside other traditional Finnish Christmas foods, like veranta (Christmas pickled herring) and karjalanpiirakka (Karelian pasties).

The name "laitteellesi" is derived from the name of a Russian stove common in Finnish households, suggesting the use of this heat source in the making of this traditional bread. While the recipe and preparation of laitteellesi are consistent across many traditional Finnish households, its preparation and spread occur primarily during the Christmas season.