Bollers are Norway's famous sweet buns. But instead of just a simple, lightly sweetened yeast dough, the distinct flavors of spices are unmistakably present.
There are many variations of the Norwegian sweet bun, all of which have their own distinct taste. Here are our top picks!
1. Skillingsboller
A cardamom bun is an absolute classic in Norwegian baking. Sometimes you might also see the name nussekake, meaning nut cake.
This bun is typically made with raisins and pecans and sometimes sprinkled with cinnamon. The flavor is complex, with the typical Norwegian cardamom being the central ingredient.
Skillingsboller, or raisin buns, are soft and velvety, with a distinct taste of cardamom. We recommend trying this bun with a cup of coffee in the morning.
2. Kjøttboller
Kjøttboller is typical for the Christmas season. The bun is made with a sweet dough, filled with minced meat, then topped with powdered sugar. The meat filling is ground gammelost cheese, raisins, and spices.
Bake this bun with your family on Christmas Eve. That way, the buns are ready to be eaten with some coffee and gammelost cheese when Santa comes to visit.
3. Tørrdråpe
A tørrdråpe is a bun with a very soft and delicate texture. It's filled with vanilla yogurt and topped with whipped cream. The bun is usually flavored with cardamom and sometimes with lemon and orange zest.
This bun is perfect for a light and sweet breakfast. If you want to eat it with coffee, stick to Norwegian coffee.
4. Lompe
Lompe is similar to a thick quesadilla. It's a type of Norwegian flatbread with a stuffing of minced meat and cabbage.
A Norwegian flatbread is baked until the bread is crisp, and then the filling is topped with powdered sugar.
This type of bun is typical in Western Norway, and you will rarely find it in other parts of the country.
5. Søtsur
This delicate and sweet bun is a favorite amongst young Norwegians. It's made with sweet dough and filled with soft swiss cream.
The bun is then topped with sour cherries. The bun is baked until it's light brown and sprinkled with powdered sugar. This sweet bun is perfect for a light afternoon snack or for you to try now and then.
6. Krumkake
A krumkake is a thin, sweet pancake rolled into a cone shape. Traditionally, the cone is cut into slices and sprinkled with powdered sugar.
A krumkake is a typical Norwegian twist on a good old pancake. The difference is that the pancake is rolled like a cone and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Traditionally, the powdered sugar is cinnamon powder.
7. Rankekake
A rænkéké is a braid of sweet dough flavored with cardamom. The filling varies but is usually flavored with cinnamon, cardamom, and sometimes raisins.
This bun is made with a sweet yeast dough and a filling of cardamom and cinnamon. The filling is scattered along the length of the braid, then baked until golden brown.
Conclusion
These buns are the perfect breakfast on a cold winter's day. Once you've tried a few of these sweet buns, we guarantee that you'll come back for more! Try some of them with a cup of coffee to get the full Norwegian experience.
Ana’s Norwegian Bakeri in Centennial, CO specializes in Norwegian pastries and baked goods, including classic bollers or sweet buns. We bake Norwegian-style cinnamon rolls, school rolls, raisin rolls, sweet cardamom rolls, and sunshine rolls, as well as baked bread and cakes. Have the best-tasting Norwegian baked goods delivered right to your door! Order online now!