kanelbullar

Kanelbullen, known in Swedish as a cinnamon bun, is a sweet, yeast-leavened pastry that originated in Sweden. It is a staple of Swedish baking and a common treat in cafes and homes. The bun is typically flavored with cinnamon and sugar and may include cardamom. It is commonly associated with the Swedish fika, or coffee break, and has taken on iconic status within Nordic pastry traditions.

Traditional dough is an enriched milk dough with butter and sugar, sometimes with a pinch of salt and ground cardamom. Yeast-fermented dough is rolled out into a rectangle, spread with a butter–cinnamon–sugar filling, then rolled up, cut into slices, and twisted or formed into spirals. The formed buns are left to rise briefly before baking and are finished with a glaze or pearl sugar.

Varieties include kardemummabulle (cardamom bun) and other flavorings. Some shops use icing or pearl sugar on top. While most common in Sweden, kanelbullar are widely available in Nordic countries and in international bakeries; frozen or ready-to-bake versions are popular for home baking.

Cultural significance: Although widely celebrated as a symbol of Swedish baking, there is no formal designation of a national pastry; media and culinary sources sometimes refer to kanelbullen as Sweden's national bun.