Saffron bun

A Swedish-style saffron bun, traditionally consumed before Christmas.

A saffron bun, in Swedish lussekatt (literally "Lucy cat", after Saint Lucy) or lussebulle, is a rich yeast dough bun that is flavoured with saffron and cinnamon or nutmeg and contains currants. In Sweden, no cinnamon or nutmeg is used in the bun, and raisins are used instead of currants. The buns are baked into many traditional shapes, of which the simplest is a reversed S-shape. They are traditionally eaten during Advent, and especially on Saint Lucy's Day, December 13.

In England, the buns were traditionally baked on sycamore leaves and dusted with powdered sugar. This "revel bun" from Cornwall is baked for special occasions, such as anniversary feasts (revels), or the dedication of a church. In the West of Cornwall large saffron buns are also known as "tea treat buns" and are associated with Methodist Sunday School outings or activities. Most commercially available saffron buns and cakes available in Cornwall today contain food dyes that enhance the natural yellow provided by saffron. The very high cost (it is the world's most expensive spice by weight^[1]) makes the inclusion of sufficient saffron to produce a rich colour an uneconomical option. The addition of food colouring in Cornish saffron buns was already common by the end of the First World War when the scarcity of saffron forced bakers to find other ways to colour their products. Larger versions of the saffron bun baked in a loaf tin are known as saffron cake.

References

• Davidson, Alan. Oxford Companion to Food (1999), "Bun". p. 114, ISBN 0-19-211579-0

External links

• http://www.kids-cookbook.com/Recipe%20Pages/Saffron%20Buns.html Cornish Saffron Bun recipe
• http://www.gretchencooks.com/recipes/628_Lussebullar_Santa_Lucia_Buns
• http://www.globalgourmet.com/food/special/2005/swedish/buns.html

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