Baking is a really big deal in Sweden around Christmas. We do love our fika and starting late November we kick that tradition into high gear. Saffron buns, gingerbread cookies, sweets, toffees and cakes – you name it, we eat it. In this post I’ve gathered all my best Swedish Christmas recipes in English for all of you fika lovers around the world.
In short, this is my Christmas shoutout to all my lovely English speaking readers out there! Happy holidays and happy baking!
Traditional Swedish Christmas recipes. Photo by Josefin Casteryd.
SWEDISH CHRISTMAS BUNS
TRADITIONAL SWEDISH LUCIA BUNS
If you want a proper Lucia celebration (and you do!) you cannot go without theese traditional saffron buns. Get the recipe here.
A slighty more modern spin on the traditional saffron buns – with cream cheese and maple syrup. Pretty darn good! Get the recipe here.
CHRISTMAS CAKES
Julmust is a must (pun intended!) in Sweden around Christmas. The Swedish Christmas soda even outsells Coca-cola during the holiday season up here in the cold North. You can get it at IKEA in most countries around Christmas and you should. If not for anything else but so you can bake this delicious cake.
We’re all about mud cakes in Sweden. Sugar and chocolate is crucial to your survival when its minus 15°C and the sun is up two hours a day. This is a Christmas version made with saffron.
SWEDISH CHRISTMAS CANDY
Candy is a big deal for Swedes around Christmas (and let’s face it – the rest of the year as well). Here are some classics and some more modern recipes. And if you don’t like salty liquorice, constant vigilance is recommended when invited to any type of Swedish Christmas party.