swedish butter saffron cake

11 Pinches 1 Photo
Moose Jaw, SK
Updated on Sep 1, 2015

This recipe is based on one from Gunilla von Heland, a food editor in Stockholm. We found that steeping the saffron in vodka helps boost the flavor of the spice throughout the cake. From Saveur magazine.

Rate
Photo by: Todd Coleman
prep time 3 Hr 30 Min
cook time 40 Min
method Bake
yield 8 -10 (prep includes rising time)

Ingredients

  • FOR THE DOUGH:
  • 1/3 cup sugar, plus 1 tsp.
  • 1 teaspoon saffron
  • 2 tablespoons vodka (vanilla vodka is nice)
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/4 ounce active dry yeast
  • 7 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for greasing
  • 1 - egg yolk
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon flake salt
  • - vegetable oil, for greasing
  • FOR THE FILLING:
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened,
  • 3 1/2 ounces almond paste, grated
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/3 cup raisins
  • - zest of 1 orange
  • 1 - egg, lightly beaten
  • 3 tablespoons white pearl sugar
  • 1/4 cup sliced almonds
  • - flour, for dusting

How To Make swedish butter saffron cake

  • Step 1
    Make the dough: In a small bowl, vigorously stir together 1 tsp. sugar and saffron. Stir in vodka and cover with plastic wrap; let sit for 1 hour.
  • Step 2
    Heat milk to 115°. Whisk together milk and yeast in a large bowl; let sit until foamy, about 10 minutes. Add butter, egg yolk, and vodka-saffron mixture, and whisk until smooth; set aside. I n a large bowl, combine remaining sugar along with the flour and salt; add milk mixture and stir with a wooden spoon to form a dough.
  • Step 3
    Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead until smooth, 6–8 minutes. Put dough into a lightly greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap; set aside to let rest until dough has doubled in size, about 2 hours.
  • Step 4
    Make the filling: Heat oven to 350°. Butter and flour a 9" round springform cake pan and line bottom with parchment paper; set aside. Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface and, using a rolling pin, roll it into an 8" x 20" rectangle.
  • Step 5
    Spread softened butter over dough, then sprinkle dough with almond paste, cranberries, raisins, and orange zest. Beginning with the short side closest to you, roll dough into a thick log. Cut log into 12 equal slices and transfer each slice, cut side up, to prepared cake pan, nestling them gently next to each other to fill pan completely.
  • Step 6
    Cover pan with a tea towel and let rise for 45 minutes. Using a pastry brush, brush surface with beaten egg and sprinkle with pearl sugar and almonds.
  • Step 7
    Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into middle of cake comes out clean, 40–45 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool for 15 minutes before serving.

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