A phrase from the Soviet cartoon “Carlson is back”
But soft, rich, incredibly tasty cinnamon buns – Kanelbulle – are not just a Swedish delicacy, in this country they are literally considered a national treasure and one of the symbols of the Swedish kingdom. In any supermarket, corner store, small bakery and gas station – they are sold almost everywhere. Swedes eat them everywhere, on holidays and on weekdays, during breakfast and snacks.
The Kanelbulle recipe first appeared in Swedish cookbooks in 1951, and the aromatic spice itself, cinnamon, appeared much earlier. It was introduced to Sweden in the 16th century and quickly gained the attention of culinary specialists. By the way, it was these “buns” (this is a Russian translation in the famous Soviet cartoon) that Carlson dabbled in in a Swedish fairy tale.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the Swedes, who are very fond of and honor their traditions, also have a Day dedicated to a cinnamon roll, which is celebrated annually. It was founded in 1999 by the Swedish Home Baking Association (or Home Baking Council, Hembakningsrådet), then celebrating its 40th anniversary, with the aim of respecting and paying attention to national culinary traditions. But there is also a version that a large grocery company, concerned about the fall in demand for sugar and flour, initiated the idea of a solemn occasion. And in order to stimulate the sales of flour, sugar, yeast and margarine, such a holiday was invented.
Be that as it may, today is Cinnamon Roll Day in Sweden, very popular and widely celebrated. In addition to the fact that on this day everyone can taste fresh and fragrant cinnamon rolls, they can participate in various competitions for the best recipe or design of buns, which are held by the organizers of the Day. By the way, according to statistics, on October 4, the number of sold buns in the country increases tenfold compared to an ordinary day (for example, in 2013, almost 8 million cinnamon rolls were sold on a holiday across Sweden), and all restaurants and cafes of the country offer this delicacy with big discounts.
Therefore, Kanelbullens dag in Sweden is a real national holiday that has gone far beyond the borders of the country. In addition to Sweden, they love to celebrate it in Germany, the USA and even New Zealand.
I must also say that there are many recipes for making Kanelbullar – from the simplest to the most original. But the Swedes consider a large amount of cinnamon to be the main secret of cooking their national dish. Festive pastries are traditionally decorated with raisins, pecans and a maple syrup or cream cheese frosting.
Join this delicious and wonderful holiday, even if you don’t live in Sweden. Bake (or buy) cinnamon rolls to delight your loved ones, friends, or work colleagues. Moreover, as the Swedes believe, a person becomes kinder from these buns …