Sweden · Northern Europe

Swedish Cardamom Buns (Kardemummabullar)

Name: Swedish Cardamom Buns (Kardemummabullar)
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 12 min
Yield: 16 buns
Cuisine: Sweden
Ingredients: 500 g (4 cups) all-purpose flour; 240 ml (1 cup) warm milk; 7 g (2 tsp) instant yeast; 80 g (1/3 cup) sugar; 80 g (6 tbsp) butter, softened; 2 tsp freshly ground cardamom; 1/2 tsp salt; 100 g (7 tbsp) softened butter; 80 g (1/3 cup) sugar; 2 tsp ground cardamom; 1 egg for wash; Crushed cardamom sugar to finish

Knotted buns rich with cardamom

🛂 Passport Stamp No.017 · Postmarked in Sweden

45m

Prep

12m

Bake

16 buns

Makes

Intermediate

Level

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Postmark · Sweden

🏛 A little history

Cardamom reached Scandinavia through centuries-old spice trade and became a defining flavor of Nordic baking. Kardemummabullar are the cardamom-forward cousin of the cinnamon bun.

They are part of Sweden's fika tradition — the daily ritual of pausing for coffee and a sweet — and are prized for their fragrant, buttery knots.

👩‍🍳 Let's bake!

Make the dough as for kanelbullar, using a generous 2 tsp cardamom. Rise until doubled.
Roll into a rectangle and spread with the cardamom-sugar butter.
Fold in thirds, roll out, and cut into strips.
Twist and knot each strip into a bun.
Proof 45 minutes until puffy.
Brush with egg wash and top with crushed cardamom sugar.
Bake at 220°C (425°F) for 10–12 minutes. Brush with a little syrup while warm for shine.

💡 Chef Axl's tips

Grind whole green cardamom pods fresh for the boldest aroma.
A quick sugar-syrup brush out of the oven gives a bakery sheen.

Pantry

All-Purpose Flour

The everyday workhorse for cakes, cookies, and breads.

🧺 Pantry staple

Pantry

Sugar

Sweetens and helps bakes turn golden and tender.

🧺 Pantry staple

Pantry

Brown Sugar

Adds sweetness and a soft, chewy texture.

🧺 Pantry staple

Pantry

Vanilla Extract

A splash of warm, sweet aroma in every batter.

🧺 Pantry staple

Tools

Parchment Paper

Non-stick lining so nothing sticks to the pan.

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Tools

Rolling Pin

Tapered hardwood pin for smooth, even rolling.

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Tools

Bench Scraper

Cuts dough and scoops up your workspace in one move.

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Swedish Cardamom Buns (Kardemummabullar)

🏛 A little history

👩‍🍳 Let's bake!

💡 Chef Axl's tips

Shop this recipe

All-Purpose Flour

Sugar

Brown Sugar

Vanilla Extract

Parchment Paper

Rolling Pin

Bench Scraper

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