Cinnamon bun day 2016: What are Kanelbulle and how to make them

Cinnamon buns are a traditional Scandinavian pastry and even have their own special day (cinnamon bun day) coming up on 4 October. So what better way to brush up on your knowledge of the sweet and sticky bun, than by finding out a bit more about the history and why they're so popular, as well as how to celebrate the day and why the Swedes love their cinnamon buns so much!

What are cinnamon buns?

Cinnamon buns or rolls (or Kanelbulle) are a Swedish cake made from cinnamon, sugar, flour and butter, and cardamom is sometimes added too. The pastries come in a whirl shape with very little decoration on top, usually only a simple pearl sugar topping and are baked for just a few minutes in a very hot oven to give them their signature taste.

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The cinnamon roll has been a Swedish staple since the 1920s and are popular in Denmark and Norway too.

There's even an American version although Sweden’s version is simpler with less sugar, less fat and a more traditional taste.

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Bronte Aurell, author of ScandiKitchen Fika & Hygge and founder of ScandiKitchen, tells Good Housekeeping that the best cinnamon buns are made from a strong bread flour, a lot of cinnamon and a pinch of vanilla.

'I also use freshly ground cardamom in my dough - it is nice and spicy and gives such a delicious bite,' she says.

'To prevent the filling from seeping out, the trick is to add a little flour into the filling. Also, importantly, a real Swedish Kanelbulle is topped with nibbed sugar - and never, ever any icing.

'When the buns come out of the oven, cover them immediately with a damp clean tea-towel and your buns will not form a crust and stay wonderfully soft,' she adds.

Why are they so popular?

Good Housekeeping’s Cookery Director Meike Beck says that cinnamon buns have enjoyed an increase in popularity recently.

‘There has been such a rise in the popularity of Scandinavian baking in recent years, and these sticky spiced buns are very much at the forefront of their sweet cuisine.’

‘They're one of my personal favourites and ideal for a cosy Sunday morning breakfast,’ adds Meike.

What’s cinnamon bun day all about?

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Cinnamon bun day is a Swedish tradition celebrated on 4 October each year. It started in 1999 by the Home Baking Council, baking ingredient producers from Sweden.

Mikaela Wetterling, from Swedish bakery Fabrique, says the cinnamon bun is a really popular piece of the Swedish pastry heritage and this is why it has its own day.

‘It’s a perfect way to embrace the autumn,' she says.

‘Almost every Swede eats a cinnamon bun on 4 October to celebrate and we, of course, hope that this will become an English tradition too one day.'

Bronte adds, 'Every year, according to statistics, the average Swede eats 316 buns. Each.'

'I don't think it is a great surprise that the cinnamon bun is a hit in the UK. Sugar, spice, all things nice - the smell of cinnamon in your kitchen, the spice of the cardamom in the dough when you bite into it. It is truly delicious, every time and simply perfect with a good strong cup of coffee.'

Bronte says this adds to the idea of fika, a Swedish word for meeting up for a cup of coffee or tea and something sweet.

'We love to fika two times a day - a morning fika and an afternoon fika,' she adds. 'It's our way of taking time out from work and just having a little break and talking to people around us.'

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What’s happening?

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Scandikitchen are doing a buy one get one free offer for a week to celebrate cinnamon bun day.

The Nordic Bakery is also celebrating the pastry with a cinnamon bun week.

Each day the bakery will sell a different cinnamon bun and flavours include blueberry & almonds, marmalade and banana & chocolate. On cinnamon bun day all the flavours will be available so you can take your pick of your favourite.

And Fabrique will celebrate the day by baking lots of extra cinnamon buns to spread the word about the popular day.

Recipes

If you want to brush up on your own cinnamon rolls, here are a few of our favourite recipes.

These sticky cinnamon rolls are enriched with butter and feature a brown sugar glaze for added simplicity, while this soft and fluffy swirled version includes added icing.