Swedish cinnamon rolls are not as sweet as their American cousins and they’re not drizzled with icing either! However, they are a pillar of Swedish culture and Swedish fika.
This pastry is so popular in Sweden that they even have a whole day for it: kanelbullens dag or cinnamon bun day is on October 4th. But it doesn’t have to be October to enjoy this treat, Swedes eat kanelbullar year-round.
Fill your kitchen with the sweet smell of Sweden with this cinnamon roll recipe!
Swedish Cinnamon Rolls
Kanelbullar
Ingredients
Yield: approximately 32 rolls
Dough
3 (1/4-ounce) packets active dry yeast (50 grams fresh cake yeast may
be substituted)
2 cups whole milk, warm
8 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon salt
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg, beaten
10 tablespoons butter, softened
Filling + topping
10 tablespoons butter, softened
3/4 cups brown sugar
3 tablespoons cinnamon
1 large egg, beaten
Pearl sugar, to garnish
For the pastry
In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast in the milk. Let the mixture stand for 5 minutes.
Add flour, salt, sugar, and egg and work them together using your hands until a soft dough forms. Cut butter into small pieces and work them into the dough.
Cover with a towel and let the dough rise for 2 hours until double in size.
For the filling
Whisk together butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Set aside.
To assemble and bake
Turn dough out onto a floured work surface. Divide the dough into 4 parts, and roll out each part into a long rectangle using a rolling pin. Spread the filling onto the dough evenly.
Fold the dough together into thirds by placing the right third over the middle, and then the left third over it. Roll the folded dough for an even flatter rectangle.
Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
Lay the rectangle horizontally and cut it vertically into 8 pieces. Take each piece by the ends and twist tightly. Hold one end and wrap the other end around to form a circular snail. Place on the prepared baking sheet and let rise covered with a towel for 1 hour.
Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 400°F.
Brush beaten egg over the cinnamon rolls. Sprinkle with sugar.
Bake until golden, 12 to 15 minutes.