Your Beautiful kikki.K Christmas: A Trio Of Swedish Christmas Favourites

Christmas in Sweden holds many traditions. Candles, decorations, white snow and, of course, festive treats. The arrival of Advent also signifies the time of Pepparkakor (Swedish gingerbread), Kanelbullar (Swedish Cinnamon Buns) and Glögg (Swedish hot, spiced wine).

Embrace Swedish this Christmas and follow the recipes for these festive favourites below. You’ll find the recipe for Swedish Glögg on the blog here. Enjoy!

KANELBULLAR RECIPE

These delicious Cinnamon Buns are filled with festive love and adored throughout Sweden.

What you’ll need for the buns:

• 2 ½ cups milk
• 375g melted butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp freshly ground cardamom (from about 25 cardamom pods)
• 4 ½ tsp dry active yeast
• 8-9 cups all purpose or bread flour

What you’ll need for the filling:

• 125g melted butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tbsp. cinnamon

What you’ll need for the final touch:

• 1 beaten egg plus 2 tbsp. water
• Granulated sugar

What you’ll need to do:

1. Heat milk to a light boil, then turn off heat. Stir in melted butter, sugar, salt and cardamom. Let mixture cool until warm to touch, stir in yeast and let sit for 10 minutes.
2. Add flour into mixture ½ cup at a time until dough is firm and pulls away from the side of your mixing bowl. Use a wooden spoon until the dough is difficult to stir, then use your hands for the remaining flour.
3. Cover the dough in the mixing bowl with a tea towel and let it rise for an hour until it has roughly doubled. Puch down the dough, then remove from bowl. On a floured surface, knead dough until smooth and shiny. Divide dough into two halves.
4. Roll each half of dough into a 33cm x 46m rectangle. Brush each rectangle well with the melted butter. Combine the sugar and 3 tbsp. cinnamon; sprinkle evenly over the 2 rectangles. Roll each rectangle crosswise to form a 46cm long cylinder.
5. Using a sharp knife, cut each cylinder into 20 equal slices and place each into a paper cake patty on a baking sheet. Cover with a tea towel and allow to double in size (about 45 mins). Preheat oven to 200°C.
6. Brush risen cinnamon rolls with egg wash and sprinkle with pearl sugar. Place in the middle of a preheated oven and bake for 7 minutes, or until done.

PEPPARKAKOR

Enjoy the scent of freshly baked gingerbread filling your home with these delicious cookies.

What you’ll need:

• 200g butter
• 250ml golden syrup
• 400g white sugar
• 1 tbsp ground cloves
• 1 tbsp ground ginger
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 250ml cream
• 1 tbsp bicarbonate soda
• 7-8 cups plain flour

Note: This recipe makes 60-70 cookies. You’ll need to prepare the dough a day in advance, before baking them.

What you’ll need to do:

1. Preheat your oven to 175°C.
2. In a medium saucepan on low heat, melt the butter and combine the syrup, sugar, spices and cream.
3. Pour the mixture into a large mixing bowl and add the bicarbonate soda and 7 cups flour. Mix to combine ingredients into dough.
4. Leave the dough to rest in the fridge overnight.
5. On a floured surface, work the mixture with your hands as you add the remaining flour.
6. Roll out the mixture with a rolling pin and keep it thin to ensure a perfect, crispy cookie.
7. Use Cookie Cutters to create gorgeous gift, bird, heart and pudding shapes.
8. Bake on a baking paper lined tray for 5-6 minutes or until golden brown.
9. Cool on a wire rack and decorate as desired.

Have you tried any of these Swedish favourites before?

Related Posts:

• Styling your Christmas Tree
• Styling and setting your Christmas table
• Decorating with Instant Snow
• Stylish Christmas Wrapping: The Minimal Way
• Stylish Christmas Wrapping: The Cute Way
• Stylish Christmas Wrapping: The Traditional Way