LUCIA BUNS

Contributed by Janet Rudd of Embla Lodge #2, Tacoma, WA & found on pg. 120 in Nordic Cookbook

  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/4–1/2 tsp. saffron threads crumbled (or 1/2 tsp. powdered saffron)
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup warm water (110-115°)
  • 2 package active dry yeast
  • 6 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (sifted)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 Tbsp. water
Lucia Bun shapes
  1. In small saucepan, heat milk just until bubbles form around edge of pan. Remove from heat. Add saffron, sugar, salt, and butter, stirring until butter is melted. Cool to lukewarm.
  2. If possible, check temperature of warm water with thermometer. Sprinkle yeast over it in large bowl, stirring until dissolved. Stir in milk mixture.
  3. Add 3 1/2 cups flour to above mixture; beat with wooden spoon until smooth, about 2 minutes. Beat in 2 whole eggs. Gradually add remaining flour, mixing in last of it with your hands until dough leaves the side of the bowl. [This is a soft dough.]
  4. Turn out dough onto lightly floured pastry cloth. Cover with the same bowl. Let rest 10 minutes. Remove bowl and turn over the dough so you can coat it with flour. Knead until it is smooth, about 5 minutes.
  5. Place in lightly greased large bowl; turn to bring up greased side before covering it with a towel. Let rise until double in bulk, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Punch down. Turn out onto lightly floured pastry cloth.
  6. Divide and shape as pictured (see diagrams above). Work with 1/3 of the dough at a time [covering remaining dough with towel to keep it moist]. After shaping, [place on parchment covered cookie sheet. When sheet is full, set aside and cover with towel. Repeat until dough used up] Let rise until double in bulk, 40-50 minutes.
  7. Brush the shapes with an egg yolk mixed with 1 Tablespoon water.
  8. Bake at 375° in preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.
  9. Cool on wire rack.
  1. St. Lucia Day is celebrated in all of the Scandinavian countries each December 13th. The tradition is for the eldest daughter of the house to dress in a long white nightgown or robe, with a red sash, red stockings, and a crown having greenery and candles glowing to come to all the rooms in the house offering saffron cakes and coffee.
  2. For a larger diagram of shapes, click here.