Swedish saffron buns for St Lucy’s Day

Swedish saffron buns for St Lucy’s Day

What’s the best way to lure in new visitors? With saffron buns, of course. Or, lussekatter, as we often call them in Sweden. At least, that’s the trick that Skansen pulled when it wanted to establish its new Christmas market in 1906.  You see, the...
Quick and flavorful Swedish sour milk bread

Quick and flavorful Swedish sour milk bread

Whenever my siblings and I visited our mother’s parents, we’d hope for the heavenly scent of freshly baked russinbröd. A slice or two spread with butter turned into the an irresistible treat. This bread is more commonly known as filmjölksbröd or...
Chewy caramel cuts — kolasnittar

Chewy caramel cuts — kolasnittar

Kolasnittar, or “caramel cuts”, have always been present on the baking trays of my childhood. Maybe that’s why I think they’ve “always” been around. But despite searching for them under several names — kolakakor, kolasnittar,...
Farmer cookies — a humble favorite

Farmer cookies — a humble favorite

Swedish farmer cookies — bondkakor — both look and sound modest. Nothing special, surely? But don’t be fooled. On a November Thursday in 1954, the press gathered to see the brand new, modern kitchen at the royal palace of Drottningholm. In contrast with the...
Swedish raspberry caves, or jam cookies

Swedish raspberry caves, or jam cookies

Actually, “Swedish jam cookies” sounds too plain. Let’s be daring and use the direct translation for hallongrottor — “raspberry caves”. That name sounds a bit more… evocative, no? While the cookie is perfectly innocent, I am not the only one who thinks...