From Our Kitchen to Yours: How to Make Traditional Swedish Cinnamon Buns Kanelbullar

Traditional Swedish Cinnamon Buns Recipe

Cooking up traditional Swedish cinnamon buns, or ‘kanelbullar’ if you’re feeling fancy, is like giving your kitchen a warm Swedish hug. You’re about to mix and knead your way through the soul-soothing aroma of cardamom dough and indulge in the buttery, cinnamon-sugar goodness that fills these delightful buns. Put on your apron and let’s get started!

Cardamom Dough Preparation

When we embark on our kanelbullar adventure, we kick things off with a dough that’s cozy with hints of cardamom. This spice is like a secret whisper of warmth that matches the cinnamon filling like a dream. Unlike those American cinnamon rolls drenched in icing, Swedish cinnamon buns are charmingly twisted into little knots and sprinkled with crunchy pearl sugar.

Ingredients for Cardamom Dough:

1. Grab a big ol’ mixing bowl and combine your warm milk and yeast. Let that mix sit and chill for about 5 minutes until it gets all bubbly.
2. In another bowl, stir up your flour, sugar, cardamom, and salt.
3. Slip the melted butter and egg into your yeast mix. Slowly mix in the dry ingredients until a soft dough begins to party.
4. Knead that dough for about 5-7 minutes until it’s smooth and feels like elastic. Cover it with a cloth and let it sit in a cozy spot until it doubles in size, usually around 1-2 hours.

Butter Cinnamon-Sugar Filling

Once our dough has puffed up, it’s time to dive into the sweet stuff. This butter cinnamon-sugar filling, kissed with cardamom, makes our kanelbullar truly sing a Swedish lullaby of flavors.

Ingredients for Butter Cinnamon-Sugar Filling:

1. In a fun-sized bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and cardamom until it’s smooth and dreamy.
2. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick.
3. Smooth the cinnamon-sugar filling across the dough, leaving a tiny edge untouched for good measure.

With the dough ready and the filling spread, you’re prepped to twist, tie, and bake your irresistible kanelbullar. Stay tuned for more baking tips and tricks in our next sections. These Swedish treats aren’t just a feast for the senses; they bring a piece of Swedish tradition to your table, perfect for any gathering. Feeling hungry for more Swedish fare? Try Swedish meatballs with lingonberry sauce-a taste of Scandinavia or some fika time-Swedish pastries and coffee recipes to try.

Baking and Twisting Techniques

Making Swedish cinnamon buns, or kanelbullar, kinda feels like a dance in the kitchen. There’s a groove to baking and twisting that gets us those perfect buns every time. Let’s spill the beans about our secret rise times and the nifty knotting techniques we’ve nailed down.

Rise Time and Preparation Tips

Swedish cinnamon buns need a bit of patience thanks to their couple of lengthy rise times. Trust us, the wait is worth it. We suggest carving out some time in the morning to get things going. Here’s the scoop on timing:

For the first rise, let the dough hang out and double up in a cozy, warm spot away from drafts. For the second rise, give those buns a little privacy under a cloth until they puff up like cozy pillows. This step is the magic behind their soft and chewy goodness. Extra tip: Stick the strips of dough in the fridge before the twisting fun begins. It cuts down on the mess of filling sneaking out, which happens when the dough’s too thin or the filling’s still kinda warm (Gimme Some Oven).

Twisting, Knotting, and Knot Prevention

Getting the hang of twisting and knotting buns is like riding a bike. Once we get it, it becomes second nature. Here’s how we knot these goodies just right:

1. Roll Out the Dough: Roll the dough into a nice rectangle once it’s risen.
2. Add Filling: Smear our buttery cinnamon-sugar filling all over like it’s going out of style.
3. Cut into Strips: Slice the dough into strips about 1-2 inches wide.
4. Twisting Technique:

• Grab a strip and twist it up a few times.
• Wrap the twisted strip into a knot and tuck those ends in for a clean look.

This trick makes them not only good-looking but ensures they cook evenly too.

Avoid sloppy knots by keeping each strip thick enough to hold onto the filling without falling apart. After working at it, we realize managing the thickness gives us buns that aren’t just pretty but tasty, too.

With practice, we’ll be whipping up kanelbullar that are both a feast for the eyes and the belly. For more cool tidbits on making these Swedish treats, check out our other bits on fika time with pastries and coffee that’ll jazz up your afternoon or explore the classic Swedish meatballs with lingonberry sauce.

Storing and Serving

Storage Recommendations

We’re all about keeping our Swedish cinnamon buns, or kanelbullar, as scrumptious as they can be. When leftovers happen—and they will—store ‘em right. At room temp in a sealed container, they’re good for about 2 days. Want to keep them longer? Toss them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Yet nothing beats the freshly baked delight they are on day one—hot and fresh, just the way they love to be devoured Gimme Some Oven.

Here’s a handy storage chart for easy reference:

Need a quick pick-me-up? Pop our kanelbullar in the microwave for 30 seconds. They’ll soften up and exude that dreamy cinnamon scent, instantly making your kitchen smell amazing Electric Blue Food.

Serving Suggestions and Variations

In Sweden, kanelbullar and fika—a well-deserved break with coffee—are a match made in pastry heaven. These buns work their magic best at room temperature, cozied up next to a steaming cup of coffee or tea. They’re perfect for sharing with friends and family during such a special time Food and Journeys.

Got creativity with your kanelbullar? Here are ideas to mix it up a bit:

• Keep It Classic: Enjoy them plain and let cardamom and cinnamon do their thing.
• Add Some Icing: Mix powdered sugar with a little water for a sweet drizzle on top.
• Go Nutty: Toss in some chopped pecans or almonds with the filling for a little crunch.
• Spiced Up: Spice it differently; try a hint of nutmeg or ginger for a fun twist.

When we store and serve our kanelbullar right, each bite’s a tasty trip back to the cozy vibes of Swedish baking. For more yummy recipes or to make your fika spread complete, check out our fika time recipes or dig into Swedish meatballs with lingonberry sauce—a little taste of Scandinavia in your kitchen.

Sourdough Kanelbullar Alternative

Sourdough kanelbullar, or what some like to call Swedish cinnamon rolls, are a fun spin on the classic treat. These rolls come with flavor and texture that’ll make your tastebuds sing and bring along some health perks from the sourdough fermentation process.

Sourdough Starter Perks

Giving our kanelbullar a sourdough starter boosts their digestibility. With a fermentation timeline slower than your average yeast rolls, you get a taste that’s richer in some ways (Living Bread Baker). That good ol’ fermentation breaks down gluten and phytic acid, making your tummy and tastebuds happy campers.

When we pop a lively sourdough starter into our rolls, we feel like we’ve hit the jackpot—a treat that’s easier on the stomach and bursting with those beloved Swedish flavors.

Playing the Long Fermentation Game

The fermentation shenanigans are key to getting that spot-on taste in sourdough kanelbullar. Letting the dough chill and rise overnight in the fridge supercharges the smell and amps up the taste (Living Bread Baker). This means the flavors get room to breathe, resulting in a sweeter and more layered cinnamon roll.

Keeping our sourdough starter well-fed is like keeping a plant alive—don’t skip regular feedings! A neglected starter won’t give you the zing you’re after. Plus, giving the dough some warmth to rise in works wonders for taste development.

The end result isn’t just dinner table eye candy; it’s a slice of Swedish life called Fika where taking a break involves some seriously good coffee, pastries like kanelbullar, and a feeling of togetherness (Living Bread Baker).

Tackling sourdough kanelbullar not only beefs up our baking repertoire but also lets us savor the sweet joys of Swedish cooking. If you’re hungry for more Swedish goodies, peek at our Swedish meatballs with lingonberry sauce or dive into our fika time Swedish pastries and coffee recipes to try.