What’s the Best Way to Bake a Moist Swedish Cardamom Bun with Pearl Sugar?
Are you ready to embark on a culinary journey to the heart of Scandinavia and create a delectable treat that will impress your guests with its sweet, spiced aromas and soft, rich texture? Allow us to guide you through the process of making traditional Swedish cardamom buns, also known as ‘Kardemummabullar’. This recipe combines the warmth of cardamom with the sweetness of sugar and the richness of butter to produce a delicious bread roll that is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a teatime treat. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and start baking!
The Key Ingredients
To start off, you’ll need to gather your ingredients. This includes not only the essentials for the dough but also the filling that gives these buns their distinctive flavour. Here’s what you’ll need:
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For the dough:
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- 600g all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp dry yeast
- 200ml milk
- 75g granulated sugar
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 75g unsalted butter
For the filling:
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- 150g unsalted butter
- 75g granulated sugar
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tsp ground cardamom
And to finish:
- 1 egg (for the egg wash)
- Pearl sugar (for sprinkling on top)
Now that you’ve got your ingredients, let’s move on to the process.
Preparing the Dough
First and foremost, you’ll need to prepare your dough. Start by heating the milk until it’s lukewarm – around 37 degrees Celsius or 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Add the yeast to the milk and let it sit for about 10 minutes until it becomes frothy.
While the yeast is activating, mix the flour, sugar, cardamom, and salt in a large bowl. After the yeast has activated, pour the milk and yeast mixture into the flour mixture. Add the softened butter. Using either your hands or a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, knead the ingredients together until a smooth, elastic dough forms – this should take around 10-15 minutes.
Once kneaded, cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and let the dough rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.
Making the Filling
While your dough is rising, it’s time to prepare the delicious cardamom-cinnamon filling. In a bowl, combine the softened butter, sugar, cinnamon, and cardamom. Stir until it’s fully incorporated and you’ve got a creamy, aromatic spread. This spiced butter will melt into the dough as it bakes, creating pockets of sweet, spiced deliciousness throughout each bun.
Shaping and Filling the Buns
Once your dough has risen, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll the dough out into a large rectangle, around 1/2 inch thick. Spread the cardamom-cinnamon filling evenly over the dough.
To shape the buns, fold the dough in thirds, like a business letter. Cut the folded dough into strips about an inch wide. Twist each strip and then form it into a knot-shaped bun, tucking the ends underneath. Place the shaped buns onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving enough space between each bun for them to expand.
Cover the buns with the kitchen towel and let them rise again for about 45 minutes, or until they’ve puffed up nicely.
Baking and Finishing
Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Celsius or 390 degrees Fahrenheit. Brush the risen buns with a beaten egg – this will give them a beautiful, golden-brown shine. Sprinkle pearl sugar over the top of each bun for a sweet, crunchy finish.
Bake the buns in the preheated oven for around 15-20 minutes, or until they’re nicely browned and the kitchen smells like heaven. Let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then move them to a wire rack to cool completely.
And there you have it! Delicious, moist, and fragrant Swedish cardamom buns. Just a bite of these buns will transport you to a cozy café in Stockholm, enjoying the simple pleasures of freshly baked bread and a cup of hot coffee. Enjoy your baking journey!
Customizing Your Swedish Cardamom Buns
Once you have mastered the basic recipe, you may want to personalize your Swedish cardamom buns to suit your own particular taste. For instance, you might want to experiment with the amount of cardamom spice and cinnamon to balance the flavors according to your preference. Some people like a stronger taste of cardamom, while others prefer a milder flavor. The key is to experiment until you find your perfect blend.
If you fancy a different type of sweetener, try swapping out the granulated sugar in the dough or filling for brown sugar. Brown sugar will give your buns a deeper, more caramel-like flavor, which might pair well with the spices. You could also sprinkle a bit of brown sugar on top of the buns before baking for a sweet, crunchy crust.
Another personal touch could be adding some dried fruit or nuts to the filling. Raisins, dried cranberries, or chopped almonds would add an extra layer of texture and flavor to your buns.
If you’re preparing these buns for a special occasion, presentation is key! Instead of forming the dough into the traditional knot shape, you could try other shapes like a braided loaf or a wreath. Just remember to adjust the baking time accordingly.
The important thing is to have fun and be creative with your baking!
Storing and Enjoying Your Buns
After all the hard work and patience, you’ve finally baked your delicious Swedish cardamom buns. The last thing you want is for them to dry out or go stale. To prevent this, make sure to store your buns properly. If you’re planning on eating them within a couple of days, a bread bin or a cake dome would be ideal. If you want to keep them for longer, you could freeze them. Just make sure to wrap each bun individually in plastic wrap before putting them in a freezer bag. This way, you can take out and thaw only as many buns as you need at a time.
When it’s time to eat, you might want to warm your bun up a little bit – this will make it even more soft and fragrant. Just pop it in the microwave for a few seconds, or in the oven at a low temperature for a few minutes. Enjoy your bun as is, or pair it with a hot cup of coffee or tea for a truly Swedish experience.
Conclusion
Baking Swedish cardamom buns might seem like a daunting task at first, but it’s actually quite a rewarding process. There’s something magical about seeing the dough rise, shaping the buns, and finally, taking out the golden, fragrant buns from the oven. The best part, of course, is biting into a soft, warm bun and tasting the wonderful blend of sweet and spicy flavors.
In conclusion, remember that baking is as much about the journey as it is about the destination. So, don’t get discouraged if your first batch of buns doesn’t turn out perfect. Just keep practicing, experimenting, and most importantly, enjoying the process. Happy baking!