Lussekatter from Sweden

Storytelling time :) 

On the 13th of December in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark they celebrate Saint Lucia.

It honors Saint Lucia, a young woman who is remembered for her kindness and helping those in need. The festival marks also the beginning of Christmas celebrations. 

In Sweden it’s tradition to make these delicious „Lussekatter“ what means Lucia’s Cat‘s :) 

Usually it’s made with saffron, what gives them their yellow colour. 

On this day, a girl, chosen to represent Saint Lucia, she wears a white dress and a crown of candles on her head, like Lucia did. 

The light of the candles symbolizes hope and the return of the sun during the long winter nights. 

St. Lucia’s Day is a joyful and important tradition  bringing light and warmth to the dark days of winter. 

PREPARATION: 

1. Heat up the milk with the sugar and butter until the sugar is completely melted. (Just warm, not boiling!) 

2. Combine flour, dried yeast, salt, cardamon, and yoghurt in a large bowl.

3. Put the Milk-Butter combination to the flour and knead everything until you have a solid dough (:

4. Set the dough with a clean towel a side and let it rise for 2 hours. Its has to be at a warm place! 

5. After the dough rested, knead it again and separate it in 30 pieces.

Form each of them into a roll and make an "S". Put a raisin in the middle parts of the "S".

6. Heat the oven to 220 degrees on bottom- and upper heat.

7. Combine a little bit of Marple sirup and water and brush the Lussekatter with it to give it a nice brown look. 

8. Bake them for 15-20 min. until they are golden brown (: 

9. In the end you can put some sugar o top and serve the warm Lussekatter with butter, it's the best (: 

ENJOY!