Lussekatter

Sweden

Also known as Saffransbullar, Saffron Buns

About Lussekatter

Lussekatter are Swedish saffron buns, a soft yellow yeast bread shaped into an S-shaped curl with a raisin pressed into each spiral. Saffron gives them a golden color and a delicate, aromatic taste.

They are baked for Saint Lucia's Day on 13 December, when a girl dressed in white with a crown of candles leads a procession singing songs, offering lussekatter and coffee. The buns are eaten throughout Advent.

Some bakers add quark or cream cheese to the dough to keep it soft. The name roughly means "Lucia cats", and the bright yellow color is seen as a symbol of light during the darkest time of the Scandinavian winter.

Ingredients

• flour
• saffron
• butter
• sugar
• yeast
• milk
• raisins
• quark