When I was in high school we had a Swedish high school student live with use for several weeks through the International Farm Youth Exchange program. Gunilla gave my mother a Swedish recipe book before she left and one recipe that we made many times over the years is a cinnamon yeast dough that can be made into a ring or cut into rolls. I like nuts so my version has chopped pecans–you can also add raisins if you enjoy them.

You begin with a basic coffee bread recipe.  From there, you can form a ring, a coffee braid or cut into rolls.

Swedish Cinnamon Ring (Coffee Bread)

2 packages active dry yeast

1/4 cup water

1/2 cup butter

3/4 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg (3/4 for dough, 1/4 for brushing)

15 cardamon seeds, crushed, or 1 1/2 teaspoon pulverized cardamon, optional (Note: I did not use the cardamon)

3 1/2 – 4 cups all-purpose flour

Softened butter for spreading on dough

Sugar and cinnamon for sprinkling on dough

Chopped nuts (optional)

1. Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water

2. Melt butter in saucepan and add milk. Chill until lukewarm.

3. Mix all ingredients with half of flour. until dough is smooth and elastic, adding more flour gradually. Save about 1 cup of flour.

4. Sprinkle dough with small amount of flour. Cover with clean towel and let rise in warm place until double in bulk (50-60 minutes). Punch down dough and turn onto lightly floured baking board and knead until smooth, adding small amount of flour gradually, if necessary.

5. Roll out dough on floured surface into 24 inches by 10 inch rectangle. Spread thin layer of softened butter over dough. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon (and nuts and/or raisins, if using).

6. Roll up dough jelly roll fashion. Pinch ends together. Place on a greased baking sheet and form into a circle. Using scissors, cut the dough into approximately 1 inch slices – push the slices of dough in alternating directions (see photo). Cover and let rise until almost double in bulk (about 1 hour).

7. Brush with slightly beaten egg. Sprinkle with chopped nuts and cinnamon-sugar. Bake at 350degrees 25-30 minutes or until a light brown.

Forming the dough into a ring

Cutting dough with scissors

Finished product. Eat and enjoy!