Kardemummabullar
Swedish Cardamom Buns
These sweet, twisted buns are spiced with cardamom and have an amazingly
soft and fluffy texture.
Enjoy them with a strong cup of coffee as
part of a Swedish fika, or afternoon coffee break! ☕️
Kardemummabullar, shown above, are sometimes called kardemummaknutar (cardamom knots) because the dough is usually cut into strips, twisted, and tied into a loose knot. In contrast, kanelbullar (cinnamon buns) are usually rolled into simple spirals, as shown below, although they too are sometimes knotted.
You might be curious.. what is the origin of such a delicious treat?
Cardamom is very popular in Scandinavia, the third largest consumer of
spices after the Near East and India. Several sources differ as to the
introduction of cardamom in Scandinavia.
The first attributes the introduction of cardamom to the Vikings. They are said to have discovered the spice in the souks of
Constantinople around 1000 years ago.
Another source claims that cardamom was introduced by the Moors,
people of Arab, Berber and Spanish origins, after their occupation of the Iberian peninsula in the 8th century.
But it was not until 1450 that cardamom made its first appearance in
Scandinavian cookbooks. No one can say for sure the origin of kardemummabullar, although these
cardamom buns have become a staple of Swedish cuisine today.
Are you ready to try kardemummabullar but not ready to leave your home? Click here for a great recipe to make your own!