Batten down the hatches, we're expecting kanelbulle gut bombs!
Being October 4, Cinnamon Bun Day is upon us once more. Also known as kanelbulle, it’s a fragrant breakfast staple.There’s no denying the popularity of them in North America as they’re perfect with a cup of coffee. But did you know the sticky little buns are even more popular in Scandinavian countries? Makes sense, with Sweden being their birth place. Let’s see if there’s anything else we can learn about this beloved morning pastry.
Consider some of the names we have for the familiar buns, which seem to be growing in popularity. In English-speaking nations, we know them as cinnamon rolls, cinnamon scrolls, cinnamon swirls, and cinnamon Danishes. We even call them sticky buns and cinnamon snails. But whatever you call them, you’ll find the preparation is almost identical. It just takes the four basic ingredients of flour, sugar, butter, and of course, cinnamon. And voila, we’ve created a winning combination of calories!
Cinnabon understood this combination and wanted to maximize on this recipe. Did you know there’s an item on their menu called The Gut Bomb? With 880 calories and 14 teaspoons of sugar, you may want to share this one with your significant other.
Kanelbulle vs. Korvapuusti: Cinnamon Bun Face-Off
As evidenced above with The Gut Bomb, bakers have creative licence to chop and change components of the popular bun. This normally takes the form of adding extra ingredients like raisins and cream cheese, but another example is the traditional Swedish kanelbulle, which typically contains cardamom buds or powder. These add an extra sweetness and spiciness to the breakfast treat that’s a little zesty. This is the original cinnamon bun first recognized by Sweden’s Home Baking Council over 60 years ago; in other words, the sweet pastry that was responsible for the very first Cinnamon Bun Day Holiday!
Size-wise, while the 5-10cm cinnamon swirls we’re familiar with are also common in Scandinavia. The Finnish korvapuusti can be up to 20cm across! But wait for it!Not to be outdone, the Swedish area of Haga presents an even more extreme version with considerable potential to rival the old gut bombs found in North America. You see, Haga is known for their hagabullar, which can be a whopping 30cm in diameter.This is the same length as a footlong sub! What’s more, they aren’t designed to be shared. Quite a breakfast for champions, no wonder the individual hagabullar pastries translate to “Queen of the kitchen!”
While they may not be as big as the hagabullar, it’s worth having a look to see what the fresh cinnamon bun situation is like in your neighbourhood. If you’ve ever wondered what a cinnamon crescent is, you’re not the only one. Here’s where you can learn more about the cousin to the cinnamon bun.
This Cinnamon Bun Day, buy the kanelbulle fresh from your local bakery or bake them yourself at home. With the warming scent of cinnamon surrounding you, we hope you have a great holiday!
