It might surprise you to find out that saffron is a very popular spice at Christmas and Easter in Sweden, especially in baked goods. With a glorious splash of honey yellow and a delicious subtle floral yet earthy flavour, it adds a wonderful warmth to these Swedish Saffron and Vanilla Buns. A sweet, enriched yeasted…
scandinavian
Mazariner (Swedish Almond Tarts)
My first encounter with Mazariner or Swedish almond tarts was in my mormor’s (granny’s) kitchen, she was invariably baking one thing and another. I recall being given the task of icing, not too taxing for an eager to help 6 year old. Traditionally made in oval tins, they’re a delicate balance of buttery pastry and…
Seeded Sourdough Knäckebröd
Knäckebröd or crispbread are widely baked in the Nordic region. Their origins lie in Sweden and Finland where they have been baked in their current form for around 500 years. You may wonder why they have a hole in the middle? Before the invention of the iron stove, baking these crisp flat breads was something…
Swedish Semlor (Lent Buns)
Swedish Semlor buns, enriched sweetened dough flavoured with cardamom and filled with almond paste and cream. Light as a feather and mouthwateringly delicious. The merest hint of cardamom or cinnamon instantly triggers memories of my childhood. How smell can evoke such happy memories. My mother and grandmother always had buns of differing flavours in the…
Festive Saffron & Cinnamon Bread Star
This Saffron and Cinnamon Bread Star is a stunning centrepiece that’s so pretty nobody will want to be the first to cut into it. Enriched, soft, golden saffron dough layered with sweet cinnamon scented butter and folded into a festive star shape. It’s so, so good. This certainly is sometimes a little different to serve…
Swedish Venison Casserole with Wild Mushrooms and Lingonberries
Swedish Venison Casserole with Wild Mushrooms and Lingonberries or Rengryta has a beautifully earthy sweetness with a rich velvety sauce and good deal of umami flavour. This delicious and comforting dish is often served in the festive period in Scandinavia. Endless forests and a varied landscape are home to numerous game such as elk and deer…
Swedish Chocolate & Cardamom Buns
Chocolate and Cardamom Buns, sound good don’t they? Those of you who follow me will know that I love buns in all shapes, sizes and flavours. After sharing a coffee with my son the other day, we talked about making them, so now I would like to share them with you. These tempting, sweet, enriched,…
Swedish Mocha & Rye Slices (Mockasnittar)
Swedes love to bake. They can always find an excuse to tuck into something sweet, fresh from the oven. Infact the bestselling book of all time in Sweden is Seven Kinds of cookies – a recipe book all about Cookies, I’m not joking. The title comes from the Swedish tradition of serving seven different types…
Danish Sourdough Rye Bread (Rugbrød)
I’ve been making this loaf for longer than I care to remember, a consistent sellout at Marlow’s Artisan Food Market and a family favourite. This is a delicious and nutritious wholegrain loaf. It’s much healthier than your average sourdough bread. Contains less carbohydrate, it’s lower in gluten, has more fibre and in general keeps you…
Swedish Vanilla Buns (Vaniljbullar)
Vaniljbullar are sweet, enriched, yeasted buns flavoured with cardamom, filled with an enticing creme patisserie and then delicately dusted with sugar. So light, and utterly delicious. These Swedish custard buns set themselves apart from any other. Although they don’t quite have the same classic status as Cinnamon & Cardamom Buns, they are still popular with…
