Sweet Almond Buns

Name: Sweet Almond Buns (Semla)
Prep time: 3 h
Total time: 3 h
Yield: Makes 15 to 20 buns
Cuisine: Swedish
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon ground cardamom; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, plus more as needed; ½ cup almonds; 3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, plus more as needed; About 1 cup milk; Butter or oil as needed; 4 tablespoons (½ stick) cold butter; 4 eggs; Pinch of salt; ½ cup granulated sugar; 2 teaspoons instant active dry yeast, like SAF; 2 teaspoons instant active dry yeast, like SAF; 1 cup Confectioners’ sugar, more or less; Butter or oil as needed; 1 cup heavy cream

Semla

Preparation info

Makes
15 to 20
buns

Difficulty
Easy
Ready in
3 hr

Appears in

The Best Recipes in the World

By Mark Bittman

Published 2005

About

I thought Lent was a time of self-denial, but in Sweden it’s when these absolutely delicious buns appear, filled with almond paste and whipped cream. They certainly could be served as dessert, but in Sweden people eat them as a midmorning or midafternoon snack.

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, plus more as needed
½ cup almonds

Europe
Sweden
Snack
Dessert
Nordic
Vegetarian
Bread
Scandinavia

Method

Combine the flour and half the almonds in a food processor. Process until the almonds are finely ground, then add the spices, yeast, salt, granulated sugar, and butter. Pulse the machine on and off until the butter is cut throughout the flour. Add 2 eggs and pulse a few more times. With the machine running, slowly add ½