Swedish Semlor Buns

Swedish Semlor Buns are soft cardamom scented buns stuffed with marzipan under a thick layer of whipped cream.  Semla is a delicious Swedish pastry eaten leading up to and during Lent.

A few facts about Semlor

First, let’s clarify that Semlor is plural and Semla is singular.   

This year, Fat Tuesday falls on March 5th. In Sweden, the pastry is only made for two months out of the year, and during these months an estimated 40 million semlor are sold. For a small population of just 10 million people.  That’s a crazy amount of semlor.  It’s estimated that over 6 million are sold in one single day during Fat Tuesday!  

How to make Semlor buns

Don’t be overwhelmed with all the steps below.  I’m taking you through the steps slowly so your first Semlor are perfect the first time.  You’ll find it as easy as making bread dough.

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1. Gather and measure all ingredients to make the dough.
2. Sprinkle yeast on top of warm water.  Stir to dissolve. 
3. In a large mixing bowl beat egg then slowly add sugar, salt, and cardamom.  Set aside. 
4. In a small saucepan melt butter.  When butter begins to simmer a bit pour in milk.  Remove from heat immediately.  This should warm the milk to the perfect temperature of around 110-112℉.  With the mixer turned on, slowly pour the milk into the egg/sugar mixture. 
5. Add dissolved yeast. 
6. Mix in flour 1 cup at a time.  Mixing after each addition.  If kneading by hand turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.  If using a mixer, continue to knead with a dough hook for about 3-5 minutes. 
7. The dough should be soft and smooth. 
8. Form dough into a round ball and return to the bowl.
9. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise for about 60 minutes or until
10. Double in size. 
11. Remove the dough from the bowl and gently press out the air. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces(75 grams if you want to weigh it) and form into rounds.
12. Place the rounds of dough onto the prepared baking trays lined with parchment paper or greased. Cover lightly with plastic wrap. Set aside for about 45-60 minutes or until the buns have almost doubled in size.

Baking and Filling Semlor buns

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A huge thank you to my son, who is living in Stockholm, who introduced me to semla.  We had a little video chat while he was eating one of these delicious buns.  He actually had to ask me twice to research them and find out how to make them.  I can’t wait to see what pastry he’ll be eating next.

5 from 4 votes

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Swedish Semlor Buns

Delicious Cardamom spiced buns cut in half and filled with marzipan and cream.  Traditionally sold in Swedish bakeries on and before Fat Tuesday (Shrove Tuesday)

Course Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine Swedish

Keyword Princess Semla, Shrove Tuesday, Swedish Dessert

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 12 minutes

rise time 2 hours

Total Time 42 minutes

Servings 12 buns

Calories 481 kcal

Author Janet Barton

Ingredients

Semla Buns

• 1 tbsp yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cardamom whole or fresh ground, if available
• 1 cup milk
• 6 tbsp butter unsalted
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour may use bread flour
• 1 egg beaten for glaze

Marzipan Filling

• Bread crumbs from inside of buns
• 7 1/4 ounces marzipan eggless
• 6 tbsp cream or milk
• 1/4 tsp almond extract pure if available

Cream Topping

• 2 cups whipping cream
• 2 tbsp powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• extra powdered sugar for sprinkling

Instructions

Semlor Bun Dough

1. Sprinkle yeast on top of warm water.  Stir to dissolve.  Set aside.

2. In a large mixing bowl beat egg then slowly add sugar, salt, and cardamom.  Set aside.

3. In a small saucepan melt butter.  When butter begins to simmer a bit pour in milk.  Remove from heat immediately.   This should warm the milk to a perfect temperature of around 110-112℉.  With the mix turned on, slowly pour the milk into the egg/sugar mixture.  Add in dissolved yeast.

4. Mix in flour 1 cup at a time.  Mixing after each addition.  If kneading by hand turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.  If using a mixer, continue to knead with a dough hook for about 3-5 minutes.  The dough should be soft and smooth. Form dough into a round ball and return to the bowl. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise for about 60 minutes or until double in size.

5. Remove the dough from the bowl and gently press out the air. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces(75 grams if you want to weigh it) and form into rounds. Place the rounds of dough onto the prepared baking trays lined with parchment paper or greased. Cover lightly with plastic wrap. Set aside for about 45-60 minutes or until the buns have almost doubled in size. 

6. When ready to bake brush each bun with the remaining egg and bake in a 375℉ preheated oven for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely before filling.

Marzipan Filling

1. To make the filling slice the tops from the buns and scoop out the filling. Tear the bread into breadcrumbs and place into a bowl. Grate the marzipan add to the bowl along with cream and almond extract.   Mix together to form a paste. Divide the filling between the buns and set aside. 

Cream Topping

1. Place the cream into a large bowl add powdered sugar and vanilla.  Whisk or beat until the cream holds soft peaks. Add the cream to a large piping bag fitted with a large star piping tip and pipe on top of each bun. Place the lids of the buns on top of the cream, dusting with a little powdered sugar. 

Nutrition Facts

Swedish Semlor Buns

Amount Per Serving (1 bun)

Calories 481 Calories from Fat 261

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 29g 45%

Saturated Fat 15g 75%

Cholesterol 109mg 36%

Sodium 191mg 8%

Potassium 167mg 5%

Total Carbohydrates 46g 15%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Sugars 14g

Protein 8g 16%

Vitamin A 18.9%

Vitamin C 0.3%

Calcium 7.5%

Iron 12.2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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