St. Lucia Buns Recipe (2024)

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Baked

These turned put great. Followed the recipe exactly. Accidentally made the s-shaped bun a little big. Got the stamp of approval from my swedish husband and his family for taste and texture. They laughed at how big they were though...said I american zed them. Oh well. I call it a win

Renee

For half a recipe: Combined 4 T. melted butter, 1 c. warm milk, 1/2 t. saffron ground w/1 T sugar and 1 1/2 t. active dry yeast - let yeast proof.3 1/2 c. flour in mixer, w/ 1/2 t. salt, 1/2 t. cardamom & 2/3 c. sugar. Added milk mixture and kneaded in mixer 5 min. adding about 1/2 c flour to make a soft dough. Let rise about 1 hour.Punched down, divided into 12, rolled into 3/4" thick "tubes" 10" long. Formed "s" shape. Let rise 45 min, then egg wash and raisins. 375 for 20 min - delish!

Kat

It’s a Nordic tradition from before the Lutheran reform, blending old Norse with Catholicism, mixed into our own tradition.I make mine with cardamom (the traditional Scandinavian sweet bun flavoring) and food coloring instead of saffron, and haven’t been taken by Åsgårdsreia (that’s out making trouble during the Lusse Night) yet!

Kirsten F.

The texture on these rolls was great! I halved the recipe and used active dry yeast instead of fresh, which seemed to work fine. I used 3 packets in my half batch, based on substitution ratios I found. I found I wished these were a little sweeter. Could I add more sugar without messing with the density of the dough? Or perhaps a sweet glaze at the end?

Alex

It's because the recipe calls for fresh yeast, and you are thinking of active dry yeast. You can Google for a measurement conversion from fresh to dry yeast. Or find fresh yeast somewhere.

cd

0.34 oz active dry yeast

Linnea Folger

We make ours with cardamom rather than saffron. Maybe my Swedish fam could not afford saffron. Also —icing. I now make a braid rather than rolls. Seems to keep them from getting dry and stale for a min

KG

This a reminder to myself and everyone out there to never again make Renee’s half version of this dough. You will only get tough, dense dough that will make you go mad with insanity

Demetra

My recipe adds quark and I shape the buns after the first kneading for a single 2 hour rise. These changes make the buns light and fluffy.I also make a version shaped like cinnamon rolls with a filling of butter, grated marzipan, and honey.

Carolyn

Eeks those are sad Saffransbullar. There are no instructions on how to make the classic "Lussekatter" (spirals on either end). Roll each piece of dough to about 12" long. Hold each end, and in opposite directions roll the ends into spirals, until they meet in the middle. They will look as they should (albeit missing the necessary pearl sugar). For a good visual: https://true-north-kitchen.com/st-lucia-buns-lussekatter/ I also use at least 1.5 tsp saffran threads, for colour and flavour.

Tried and failed

I followed the recipe exactly, and the buns burnt so quickly on the bottom, even before they were done! The oven temperature was so high. I think this would have worked well at a lower temperature for a slightly longer time.

sf

Just a heads up that this recipe takes much longer than 1.5 hours. The rising time alone is about that long.

Teri

The recipe just says "wheat flour." Does that mean whole wheat flour or AP flour or a different kind of flour? Can I use AP flour?

LJ

Several hours before, soak the ground saffron/sugar in 1Tbsp cognac to bring out more flavor and color from the threads.

Shannon

It seems like a lot of yeast, no? Could I achieve the same thing if I wait and let it become a sponge before adding half of the flour?

KG

This a reminder to myself and everyone out there to never again make Renee’s half version of this dough. You will only get tough, dense dough that will make you go mad with insanity

Elin

These were great! I would recommend making them pretty small as they do rise a good deal in the oven, I started with 150 gram buns and they turned out huge.

cd

0.34 oz active dry yeast

ciaomellons

If you’re looking if you’re looking to spice things up a bit with a nice garnish, my friend who lived in Sweden that taught me how to make these uses pearl sugar! They are gorgeous w them!

Sara

Is "wheat flour" whole wheat or all purpose...they look like AP

Renee

For half a recipe: Combined 4 T. melted butter, 1 c. warm milk, 1/2 t. saffron ground w/1 T sugar and 1 1/2 t. active dry yeast - let yeast proof.3 1/2 c. flour in mixer, w/ 1/2 t. salt, 1/2 t. cardamom & 2/3 c. sugar. Added milk mixture and kneaded in mixer 5 min. adding about 1/2 c flour to make a soft dough. Let rise about 1 hour.Punched down, divided into 12, rolled into 3/4" thick "tubes" 10" long. Formed "s" shape. Let rise 45 min, then egg wash and raisins. 375 for 20 min - delish!

Margie

Help! Seems like a lot of yeast. Six packages?

Alex

It's because the recipe calls for fresh yeast, and you are thinking of active dry yeast. You can Google for a measurement conversion from fresh to dry yeast. Or find fresh yeast somewhere.

Demetra

My recipe adds quark and I shape the buns after the first kneading for a single 2 hour rise. These changes make the buns light and fluffy.I also make a version shaped like cinnamon rolls with a filling of butter, grated marzipan, and honey.

Maggie

The marzipan and honey sounds amazing!

Linnea Folger

We make ours with cardamom rather than saffron. Maybe my Swedish fam could not afford saffron. Also —icing. I now make a braid rather than rolls. Seems to keep them from getting dry and stale for a min

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St. Lucia Buns Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make lussekatter without saffron? ›

If you don't have saffron or simply want to make St Lucia buns without saffron, you can use turmeric instead, to give the lussekatter their classic yellow color. Or some people choose to add turmeric on top of the saffron, to make the buns extra yellow.

What are St Lucia buns called? ›

Originally, the buns were called djävulskatter (“devil cats”), but later the name changed to the more polite lussekatter (“Lucia cats”). The dough is sweet and soft, but spiced with a generous amount of saffron to make it bright yellow.

What is the history of Lucia buns? ›

There it was believed that the devil, in the form of a cat, would give the bad children a beating, while a Christ figure, in the form of a child, would hand out sweet buns to all the kind ones. To keep the devil away, the sweet buns were colored with luminous yellow saffron spice.

What do they eat on St Lucia Day? ›

Families observe St. Lucia's Day in their homes by having one of their daughters (traditionally the eldest) dress in white and serve coffee and baked goods, such as saffron bread (lussekatter) and ginger biscuits, to the other members of the family. These traditional foods are also given to visitors during the day.

Can you omit saffron? ›

While there is no one herb that can replace saffron, using several herbs and spices in combination can help create a similar taste profile and colour. Turmeric and Paprika are the most common substitute combinations.

What are the three types of buns? ›

Some of the most common types include:
  • Dinner rolls: small, round rolls that are often served with meals.
  • Brioche buns: a type of French bread that is rich and buttery, often used for hamburgers and sandwiches.
  • Hot dog buns: long, thin buns that are specifically designed to hold hot dogs or sausages.
Jan 16, 2023

What is the most popular dessert in St Lucia? ›

Whether it's homemade or store-bought, banana bread is a top choice for dessert in Saint Lucia. Also known as banana cake, often ingredients include nuts, spices, and of course banana, the main attraction.

What dessert is St Lucia known for? ›

Satisfy your sweet tooth while in St. Lucia with a traditional dessert. Paime (also referred to as pemmie) is a Creole sweet treat that pays homage to the island's heritage. It's made with a mixture of mashed pumpkin, dried coconut, cinnamon, sugar, and cornmeal that's all tucked inside a green banana leaf.

What are Ducat buns? ›

Classic ducat buns — a miniature version of the delicious buns that grandma used to make. These small ducat buns not only look great, they are also much easier to eat! The quince jam and vanilla cream, beautifully flavored with lots of aromatic spices, give the buns that special something.

Why are buns called buns? ›

The English word bun is a derivation of the Greek word for ceremonial cakes and breads, boun. In the Middle Ages, home bakers marked their loaves with crosses before baking.

Why is it called lussekatter? ›

Why is it called Lussekatter? It is thought that the buns were originally modeled after a sleeping cat (the S-shape being the curled up tail), believed to ward off the devil.

What is St Lucia main dish? ›

The signature meal you should have in Saint Lucia is green figs and salt fish, the island's national dish. Locals boil unripe bananas and then add salt-cured boiled or flaked cod.

What is the signature drink in St Lucia? ›

The signature drink of this island, known as the 'spirit of St Lucia' is a rich and flavourful rum crafted from locally sourced sugarcane that continues to influence the economy of St Lucia today.

What is Lussekatter made of? ›

The word lussekatt roughly translates to Lucy cat. The lussekatt is made from a more or less a standard sweet wheat dough which is flavored with saffron. The buns are shaped into different figures, the most common is an S but there are many varieties.

How to make saffron seasoning? ›

Grind 2 tsp. saffron threads, along with a sugar cube or a pinch of coarse salt, to a powder with a mortar and pestle or a spice mill to draw out the most flavor and color. Then add ¼ cup warm water and let cool.

How to make saffron extract at home? ›

Saffron Extracting Methods
  1. Take a pinch of saffron threads and crush them into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle.
  2. Boil 1 cup of water and pour it over the crushed saffron.
  3. Let the saffron steep in the water for 10-15 minutes.
  4. Strain the saffron-infused water and use it in your beauty routine.

What does saffron add to a recipe? ›

Saffron is often used in rice dishes, sauces, and stews to provide depth of flavor. Coloring: Saffron is prized for its intense golden-yellow color. It can be used to impart a vibrant hue to dishes such as rice, desserts, and beverages. A small amount of saffron goes a long way in coloring food.

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