×
Donal Skehan
Saffron Lucia Buns | DonalSkehan.com, A classic Swedish Christmas baking recipe.
  • christmas

Saffron Lucia Buns

December 05
A classic Swedish baking recipe which is made in my wife Sofie’s family every year without fail. On my first visit to Gothenburg, Sofie’s grandmother taught me the recipe in a full Mrs. Claus outfit- a memory I won’t forget. In Sweden, sachets of saffron are so sought after, they are kept behind the counter in supermarkets. Be warned this is an unusual tasting bun and if you prefer you can sweeten further with a couple of extra tablespoons of sugar.
  • serves Serves 12
  • time 90mins

Method

  1. 1. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. 2. If the saffron isn’t already ground, grind in a pestle and mortar.
  3. 3. Melt the butter in a large pan gently on a low heat and then add the milk. When the mixture is lukewarm, remove from the heat and stir through the saffron.
  4. 4. Mix the flour, yeast, sugar, salt and cardamom in a large electric mixer.
  5. 5. Make a well and pour the wet ingredients in. Using a wooden spoon mix until you have a rough dough.
  6. 6. When the dough has taken shape and is no longer sticky, turn out onto a clean-floured surface and knead for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Dust with a little flour if you find the dough is too sticky.
  7. 7. Transfer the dough to a floured bowl, cover with cling film and let it rise for 45 minutes in a warm place.
  8. 8. Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas Mark 6.
  9. 9. When the dough has risen, punch it down in the bowl and divide it into equal pieces approx 85g in weight or roughly the size of your palm. Roll each piece into a long sausage and swirl in the ends to meet the middle forming an “S” shape. Decorate the centre of each swirl with a raisin. Transfer each bun to lined baking sheets leaving 5cm approx. between them to allow for rising.
  10. 10. Mix the ingredients for the glaze and brush over each bun.
  11. 11. Bake the rolls in the oven for 15 minutes or until they are risen and golden brown. The buns are incredible eaten just warm from the oven.

Ingredients

For the dough:

110g butter

400ml milk

600g plain flour

1 x 7g sachets dried yeast

110g caster sugar

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp ground cardamom

7g envelope saffron

1 large free range egg, beaten

Approx. 40 raisins

For the glaze:

1 large free range egg, beaten

1 tbsp full fat milk

 

You'll Need

Baking sheet x 2

Parchment paper

Large Pan

Electric mixer

Wooden spoon

Bowl

 

If you liked this

You may also like

Chocolate Swirl Buns | DonalSkehan.com, These rich, fragrant pastries will go down a treat with your morning cup of coffee.
  • desserts-baking
  • →

Chocolate Swirl Buns

May 24

As European baking goes I have a slight bias towards Sweden. I love their cardamom-scented and cinnamon-laced sweet bakes, breads and cakes. These chocolate swirl buns borrow the sweet bread dough used to make traditional Swedish cinnamon buns but, instead of cinnamon butter, have a dark and decadent chocolate filling. I’ve kept the cardamom in the bread dough – it works well with the chocolate.

 
Swedish Cinnamon Buns | DonalSkehan.com, Perfect festive treat but great all year round too!
  • desserts-baking
  • →

Swedish Cinnamon Buns

November 12

Of the many different types of baking recipes from Sweden, the cinnamon bun is perhaps the most famous. In Sweden you can buy them everywhere from cafe’s to supermarkets and even petrol stations. It’s a sweet bread dough rolled up with a swirl of sweet buttery cinnamon throughout. The Swedes sprinkle these with pearl sugar which doesn’t melt at high temperatures and creates those wonderfully distinctive white dots on top of the buns.
Swedish Apple and Almond Cake | DonalSkehan.com, The perfect cake to celebrate autumn.
  • desserts-baking
  • →

Swedish Apple and Almond Cake

November 17

Where we stay in Sweden the gardens are filled with apple trees heavy with fruit every Autumn. Although I love the summer in Sweden, the Autumn is quite unique and equally special. This apple and almond cake is a wonderful way to celebrate the seasons fruit and is heavily spiced with comforting cinnamon and cardamom.