Sunshine Semlor

SWEDISH SEMLOR (SUNSHINE SEMLOR)

By: Louise Sunshine Vernerstrom

INGREDIENTS

Rolls:

2/3 cup butter, melted

1 1/2 cups almond milk (heat to 82 degrees F)

1 envelope of active dry yeast

1 teaspoon ground cardamom

2 eggs

5 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 teaspoons baking powder (mix with flour)

Almond paste filling:

1/2 cup milk

5 ounces almond paste or marzipan

Topping:

2 cups whipping cream

2 tablespoons white sugar

powdered sugar for dusting

DIRECTIONS

1.  Melt butter, add warm milk. Put yeast in a large bowl and add butter & milk mixture. Stir until yeast is completely melted. Add cardamom and eggs. In separate bowl mix flour 1/2 cup white sugar, salt and baking powder together. Add flour mixture to milk mixture until all the dry ingredients are thoroughly combined. Cover with a towel and let rise for 1 hour.

2. Form dough into 20 balls (or 40 if you would like smaller semlor). Place balls onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Cover with a towel and let rise about 45 minutes.

3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

4. Bake for about 14 minutes or until golden brown. Cool buns on a wire rack.

5. Once the balls are cool, cut the top off each one to make a "lid" for the semla (about 1/2 inch) and set aside. Take a fork and gently scoop out the middle of the bun to make a "cave." Save the center bread for the almond paste filling in a large bowl.

6. Grate the almond paste and set aside. Moisten the bread from the center of the buns with milk, then mix in the almond paste until smooth. Continue adding small amounts of milk (or heavy cream) until it resembles a thick pudding.

7. Spoon almond paste filling into each bun "cave" and top with whipping cream mixture.

8. Add 2 tablespoons of sugar to the whipping cream. Beat until whipping cream makes stiff peaks. Put generously on top of the almond paste filling then top with the bun "lid". Use a sifter to dust tops with powdered sugar.

This is authentic Swedish Semla made by my friend Louise Vernerstrom from Falun, Sweden. Semlor was originally a pastry exclusively eaten for Fat Tuesday. However, it is so good, that tradition has changed drastically. Many serve it all year round.