Greetings from Sweden's Home Baking Council

Greetings from Sweden's Home Baking Council. That's right, Sweden has an official Home Baking Council, called the Hembakningsrådet. The council celebrates Swedish baking and the integral role in plays in our culture. 

I've been slowly reaching out to players in Swedish culture as I progress in my Scandinavian journey. This past week, I received a wonderful response from Birgit Nilsson Bergström of the Home Baking Council. She shares the following:

Hi Matthew,

I’m very pleased to hear that you are trying to “become a real swede,” by learning the Swedish bread heritage!

You´ve got to start baking:

Kanelbullar – Swedish cinnamon buns

Knäckebröd – crisp bread

Pepparkakor – cinnamon biscuits (Christmas)

Mjuk pepparkaka – cinnamon cake, sponge cake

Lussekatter – saffron buns (Christmas)

Småkakor – small cakes/biscuits

Semlor – buns filled with almond and whipped cream (served before Easter)

Rågbröd och surdegsbröd – rye bread and sourdough bread

Jordgubbstårta – cake filled with strawberries and decorated with whipped cream (midsummer)

Regards,

Birgit

Dear Birgit of Sweden is also kindly sending me a cookbook that teaches these nine basic Swedish recipes that are most common in Sweden's households. After I told her that the Utah Scandinavian Festival's annual baking contest is in May, she said that I "must enter kanelbullar!" 

Well, Birgit, when you're right, you're right. Kanelbullar it shall be! 

But, in the mean time, we have International Pancake Day ahead of us (March 4) when I'll share a lesser-known, but equally as delightful, Swedish pancake.