My easy & delicious recipe for Saffron buns

Saffron buns are only sold and baked around Christmas, with saffron being so expensive up here in the north, but they are so quintessential Christmas for me that I can’t imagine Christmas without them. I enlist the help of my kids when I am making these. At least when it is time to shape the dough. And for the all-important taste test when the buns are done.

So I thought to share my favourite recipe for them with you so you can make your own. It is super easy and so delicious. I am Swedish so I use the metric system. For my conversions, I have found that The Rookie Cookie has a really nice post explaining this.

Ingredients

Directions

1. Take out all the ingredients and let them rest at room temperature. It will help with the mixing if everything is at room temperature. Bring the water and sugar to a boil and let boil for a minute before removing from the stove and stir in the saffron. Let it cool.
2. Add the fresh yeast to the bowl or kitchen assistant. (if using dried, follow the instructions on the packet.) Pour over the milk (room temp or warmed to body temp, approx 37 degrees C) and stir to dissolve the yeast.
3. Add most of the flour, all of the butter( chopped up), sugar, eggs, salt and the saffron/sugar mix. Work the dough either in a machine or by hand until supple. Add the rest of the flour, then work the dough again (about 5-10 mins) until supple.
4. Let the dough rest until it is double the size, at least 30 mins under a clean kitchen towel.
5. Remove the dough from the bowl and knead for a couple of minutes before dividing it into 35-40 pieces(roughly 60-70g/ piece)
6. Roll the dough to thin lengths approx. 25 cm long. roll in the ends in opposite directions so the bun becomes an S. put the bun on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper and decorate with raisins. 2 per bun.
7. Let rest on the baking sheet to double size, again at least 30 mins. Turn on the oven to 250°C (482°F).
8. Whisk together egg, salt and water and coat the buns before sliding them into the middle of the oven for about 7-8 min.
9. Let cool down slightly before eating.

Serving suggestion: Serve the saffron buns with hot glüwein or mulled wine along with gingerbread cookies(recipe found here). For the kids, you can serve milk or warmed red fruit drink.