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Semlor: Traditional Swedish Fat Tuesday Buns (semla recipe)
4.8 from 224 votes

Semlor: Traditional Swedish Fat Tuesday Buns (semla recipe)

Semlor are rich, cardamom-flavored Swedish buns filled with almond paste and whipped cream, traditionally served on Fat Tuesday. The dough combines flour, yeast, sugar, milk, butter, and cardamom, yielding soft, slightly sweet buns with a tender crumb. After baking, the buns are filled with creamy almond paste and topped with generous whipped cream before dusting with powdered sugar.

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
50 mins
Servings: 18
Calories: 291 kcal
Course: Bread, Baked Goods
Cuisine: Swedish

Ingredients

Buns:
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour or bread flour, add more if needed
  • 2 tsp yeast dry
  • ⅓ cup + ½ tsp sugar divided
  • ½ cup milk warmed
  • ⅓ cup butter melted
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 egg slightly beaten
  • 1 tsp cardamom
  • ½ cup water lukewarm
Glaze:
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 Tbsp cream
Almond Paste (See notes for a raw egg-free recipe):
  • 1 egg mine came from my neighbor and it’s the only way I eat raw eggs not recommended with store-bought eggs, white, fresh
  • ½ cup ground almonds without skins
  • ¾ cup powdered sugar
To Assemble:
  • 2 cups whipping cream as needed
  • 1 Tbsp powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In bread machine or stand mixer, place the lukewarm water, yeast and the ½ tsp of sugar. Allow to rest for a few minutes, until the yeast begins to grow. Mix the milk, melted butter, beaten egg together, then add to the yeast mixture.
  2. Add the cardamom, flour, sugar, and salt, and turn on machine (dough setting on bread machine or use a dough hook if using a stand mixer.) Mix and knead by hand if you aren’t using a machine.
  3. Dough will be slightly sticky. Allow cycle to finish on dough setting; with stand mixer, or by hand, when the dough is ready, cover it and let rise on the counter until doubled in size.
  4. After it’s risen, punch down the dough, and let rest for 5 minutes. Cut pieces of the dough and shape into round balls (about 15 to 18), and place onto a greased cookie sheet (or silicone sheet) about an inch apart. I baked mine with the buns too close together and they touched, so don't put them as close as I did in the photo below.
  5. I also weighed mine so they would all be of equal size, however it’s really unnecessary unless you are a Type A personality, like me. Place the tray in the oven (do not turn it on) to rise for about half an hour or until doubled in size. (I put a large cup of boiling water in the oven for steam, so the buns don’t get a hard crust).
  6. Once doubled, remove the buns from the oven and brush with the egg glaze (just mix the egg and cream together and brush on gently.)
  7. Preheat the oven to 350º F (175ºC) then cook the buns for approximately 20 minutes, or until golden brown. While they are baking, prepare the almond paste.
  8. Make the marzipan by whipping the egg white until soft peaks form, then fold in the ground almonds and powdered sugar.
  9. Cover and set aside.
  10. Remove the cooked buns from the tray, and place on a cooling rack.
  11. When the Semlor are completely cool, whip the cream and assemble them.
  12. Begin by cutting a top on each bun with a sharp knife, cutting down into the center of the bun to create a space for filling in the bun. Then put a teaspoonful, or more, of the almonds paste.
  13. Next, top with whipped cream. I used my ISI Cream Whipper, which I adore!
  14. Place the top on the cream, and dust with powdered sugar. Repeat with remaining Semlor.

Notes

  • An alternative almond paste recipe is available that omits raw eggs for food safety.
  • Uneaten whipped cream can be stored for later use in other desserts.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 bun Calories 291kcal (15%) Carbohydrates 32g (11%) Protein 5g (10%) Fat 16g (25%) Saturated Fat 9g (45%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g (6%) Monounsaturated Fat 4g (20%) Trans Fat 0.1g (5%) Cholesterol 62mg (21%) Sodium 175mg (7%) Potassium 79mg (2%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 10g (20%) Vitamin A 547IU (11%) Vitamin C 0.2mg (0%) Calcium 42mg (4%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 18 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 291

% Daily Value*

Serving 1 bun
Calories 291kcal 15%
Carbohydrates 32g 11%
Protein 5g 10%
Fat 16g 25%
Saturated Fat 9g 45%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 4g 20%
Trans Fat 0.1g 5%
Cholesterol 62mg 21%
Sodium 175mg 7%
Potassium 79mg 2%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 10g 20%
Vitamin A 547IU 11%
Vitamin C 0.2mg 0%
Calcium 42mg 4%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.