Scandinavian St. Lucia Bun Recipes & Traditions

[myinnerchef]

I know this isn't a PC thing, but I'm wondering if anyone here is Scandinavian and has a recipe for St. Lucia buns that does not require saffron. My DD heard about this tradition from one of my cousins (her family embraced our Norwegian heritage) and wants to begin celebrating it in our family.

If you celebrate, how do you so? What do you use for the crown?

 

[Teresa Lynn]

just curious why would you omit the saffron?

 

[myinnerchef]

just curious why would you omit the saffron?

Because it's $300 per ounce.

 

[floccies]

You can get the quanity you need for the recipe in the grocery store. It is pricey but more like $18-$25. It doesn't take much to cook with.

 

[NooraK]

Here's a link to a recipe for pulla. You can use this recipe to make the St Lucia day buns, or you can make these just as is.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Finnish-Pulla/Detail.aspx

Of course, you would just shape it into the St Lucia bun shape instead of creating a braid.

 

[Teresa Lynn]

many grocery stores sell threads and its under $10

 

[straitfan]

I celebrate St. Lucia Day with my 2nd grade class every year. (My B-day is the 15th, and I'm the oldest girl in our family, and I became enthralled with Lucia at a young age. I never could understand why Mom wouldn't let me walk around with candles on my head! LOL! Now that I'm grown we celebrate every year. The girls make construction paper Lucia Crowns, and the boys make star boy hats. The we bake Lucia Buns, bring our bathrobes and have a parade then eat and drink hot cocoa! Fun Fun! Anyway........when I started doing this I was put off by the cost of saffron too, and just substituted cinnamon in the rolls we make (figured the kids would like that better anyway since it's familiar). They are always yummy!! We let my bread machine do the mixing and first raising, then they each get some balls of dough and roll them out into "snakes" and then curl 2 together to make the double s shapes. Recipe is on my other computer, I'll post it when I can!!!

 

[myinnerchef]

Thank you, straitfan, that's exactly what I was looking for. I can't wait for the recipe.

 

[erinyourpclady]

I actually got to wear candles but I think I was 12 at the time and the oldest young girl at our church. I LOVED playing Lucia for the few years it was my turn!

 

[straitfan]

Lucky you Erin.....your mom must have been nicer than mine! LOL! Here's the recipe I use every year! Saint Lucia Day Buns
We use a 2 lb. bread
machine to help us mix up the
dough. Ingredients:
1 Cup Milk
2 eggs
1/3 cup butter or margarine cut
up
4 Cups of bread flour
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons finely shredded
orange peel
1/4 teaspoon thread saffron
crushed (we used 1 1/2
teaspoons of cinnamon instead)1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 beaten egg
1 tablespoon water
16 raisins
granulated sugar (we used
powder sugar icing)Directions:
Add the first nine ingredients to
the machine according to the
manufacturer’s directions.
Select the dough cycle. When
cycle is complete, remove
dough from machine. Punch
down. Cover and let rest for 10
min.
Divide the dough in to 32
portions. On a lightly floured
surface, roll each portion into a
smooth 10 inch long rope. Form
each rope into an S shape and
curve each end into a coil. Cross
2 of these S shape ropes to
form an X. Repeat with the
remaining S shape ropes. Place
ropes on a greased large
baking sheet. Cover and let rise
in a warm place about 30 min.
or until nearly double.
In a small bowl combine the
beaten egg and water; brush
over buns. Place 1 raisin in the
center of each coil. Sprinkle the
buns with granulated sugar.
Bake in a 375 degree oven
about 10 min. or until golden
brown. Remove from baking
sheet; cool on a wire rack.

 

[straitfan]

I actually got to wear candles but I think I was 12 at the time and the oldest young girl at our church. I LOVED playing Lucia for the few years it was my turn!

We have a Swedish community about 40 miles away from here (Lindsborg), and they do the traditional Lucia Day celebration every year. They have a troupe of Swedish Dancers and one of the Senior girls gets voted to be Lucia and preside over the service. I've been several times and really enjoy it.

 

[straitfan]

If you celebrate, how do you so? What do you use for the crown?

You've got me going now......They actually sell the crowns with battery candles in some of the shops in the little town I wrote about in my earlier post. Bet you could fine one on the internet, or let me know and I can probably get one and send it to you (but probably not before Saturday!)

 

[erinyourpclady]

There is a fabulous store that is in Lindsborg but also has a catalog and website...http://www.helmslojd.com

I know I was lucky to have the experience...my mom never got to and I was the only girl in our family.