Cardamom Buns in Copenhagen

Copenhagen is to pastry lovers what Naples is to pizza. When you think of Danish pastries, you think of decadence. A crispy exterior with a warm soft centre, bursting with flavour in every bite. But with the incredible rise of social media (both in terms of scope and pace) comes a new pastry obsession in the Danish capital: cardamom buns.

As my brief google research would have it, cardamom buns originate from neighbouring Sweden. The Swedes have long fondly leant toward cardamom in their baking creations, however in the 1950’s this fondness went into overdrive.

Ergo, cardamom buns.

So, what exactly is a cardamom bun?

Much like their Americanised counterpart (read: cinnamon buns), a cardamom bun is a doughy bun made with all the usual suspects (flour, butter, yeast, etc.) The chances are you have eaten something of a similar variety in your lifetime, at least by way of texture. But when it comes to the actual flavour of cardamom buns, this is where things get interesting.

Cardamom has an intense floral flavour, which is ever prominent in the illustrious cardamom bun. The buns are delicious, don’t get me wrong. But with such a unique flavour profile, be prepared for a flavour hit like nothing else.

Elsewhere in Copenhagen, there is plenty to see and do. I visited on a solo trip right before opening my bakery (a research trip of sorts) and had a delightful - albeit expensive - few days in the city. Notoriously cold outside of the summer months, Copenhagen is a city that is best enjoyed on bicycle or foot, meandering the streets for concept stores, cute cafes and the now famous concept of hygge - Danish coziness.