Semlor: Traditional Swedish Cardamom Buns with Almond Filling

Semlor: Traditional Swedish Cardamom Buns with Almond Filling
Photo by Jonas Jacobsson / Unsplash

Transport yourself to the cozy kitchens of Scandinavia with our Homemade Semlor Recipe. These delightful cardamom-scented buns, filled with a luscious almond and cream mixture, are a true celebration of Nordic pastry traditions. Let's embark on a journey of flavors and create these sweet treats in the comfort of your home.

Ingredients:

Pre-Ferment:

  • 200ml Milk
  • 25g Fresh Yeast
  • 240g Flour

Dough:

  • 180g Flour
  • 1 Egg
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 1 tbsp Cardamom
  • 80g Sugar
  • 100g Butter

Filling:

  • 50ml Milk
  • 75g Almond Paste
  • 200ml Whipped Cream

Other:

  • Powdered Sugar

Instructions:

Pre-Ferment:

  1. Heat the milk to 32°C. Crumble the yeast into a bowl, add milk, and mix until the yeast is dissolved. Then, incorporate flour.
  2. Allow the Pre-Ferment to rest for 15 minutes.

Dough:

  1. Add flour, egg, salt, cardamom, and sugar to the Pre-Ferment. Mix until a smooth dough is formed.
  2. Let the Dough rest for 30 minutes.
  3. After 30 minutes, shape the dough into 10-12 small buns and place them on a baking tray.
  4. Allow the balls to rest for 1-2 hours.
  5. Preheat the oven to 210°C and bake the buns for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. After baking, let the buns cool.

Filling:

  1. Cut the buns in half.
  2. Remove some of the crumb from each bottom half of the bun.
  3. Combine the crumb with milk and almond paste. Mix until a smooth filling is achieved.
  4. Fill the bottom bun with the almond filling and place some whipped cream on top. Close the bun and dust with powdered sugar.

Embrace the Scandinavian baking tradition with these Homemade Semlor. The delicate balance of cardamom, almond, and cream creates a pastry experience that is both rich and comforting. Share these delightful buns with loved ones and savor the warmth of Nordic flavors. Happy baking!