Semlor: the traditional, simple recipe for making the delicate Swedish dessert

Semlor is an easy Swedish dessert recipe. Also known as Fat Tuesday Bombs, this recipe is similar to Scottish cream buns. It’s a sweet bun filled with almond paste and topped with whipped cream. Traditional Semlor is prepared to celebrate Fat Tuesday, a day of feasting before Lent, a period of fasting.

They are filled with a flavorful almond paste and topped with whipped cream. The yeasted buns are full of flavor and have just the right texture. Don’t let fancy ingredients put you off from making this. Try your hand at this delicate recipe!

What are Semlor?

Semlor is the plural word for Semla. According to the tradition, in 1771, King Adolf Fredrik of Sweden died after consuming 14 of these cream-filled buns! Those buns must’ve tasted really good! The yeasted buns are filled with a homemade almond paste and topped with whipped cream.

Sometimes they are also called Fat Tuesday bombs, fastlagsbulle or fettisbullar, because they were traditionally eaten on Fat Tuesday, the feasting day before Lent starts. These days they are eaten throughout the year.

How to Make Semlor

Make the dough by mixing all the ingredients. Knead until the dough is smooth. Divide it into 14 buns, making sure they are all the same size. Allow to rise for about an hour, then bake until golden.

Make the DIY almond paste by blending the almond with sugar and water (you can add a bit of milk if you want it creamier). Add the custard and mix to combine. Cut each bun, and fill with the almond paste. Top with whipped cream, and cover with the bun top you sliced off. Dust with powdered sugar.

How to serve Traditional Semlor

Serve the semlor with ice cream, or with a glass of milk.

Tips

Dust the powdered sugar right before serving!

For a shortcut, you can use marzipan for the filling instead of almond paste—it will be slightly sweeter and won’t have such a pronounced almond taste.

How to Store Semlor

Leftover semlor can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days, noting that the buns might soften over time. Make sure to keep them in an airtight container, to prevent them from picking up others flavors.

Can You Freeze Traditional Semlor?

The buns can be frozen! Bake and cool the buns. Wrap them tightly with plastic wrap, and freeze for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw completely, before cutting them open and filling them.

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, salt, ground cinnamon, yeast, egg, milk and butter.

Mix all ingredients and knead the dough.

Divide it into 14 pieces and form it into buns. Place the buns on a baking sheet with parchment paper. Allow to rise for 1 hour.

Bake for 10 minutes at 180°C / 350°F.

In a blender, blend the almonds with sugar and water.

Add the custard and stir.

Make cuts in each bun. Fill the buns with almond filling.

Squeeze whipped cream on top.

Cover with a sliced ​​bun and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Notes

How to make the buns perfectly round: use your palm to press each ball of dough against the table and roll in circles until the bun is smooth and shiny. Cup your hand around the bun and make a circular motion to shape the bun into a ball.