St. Lucia Buns

There's something wonderful about the folklore around winter solstice celebrations — the symbolism of light returning, days growing longer. St. Lucia buns sit right at the center of that tradition. The saffron gives them a warm golden color said to represent the sun's light, and the spiral "S" shape carries ancient solar symbolism. They smell incredible while baking, taste even better warm, and make a beautiful Christmas morning treat or solstice celebration centerpiece.

Make a batch ahead — they hold well and the dough can even be made the night before and left to rise in the refrigerator overnight.

Ingredients

• ¾ cup milk or non-dairy milk (175ml)
• ½ tsp saffron threads
• 1 tsp plus ¼ cup (50g) white granulated sugar, divided
• 1 packet (¼ oz) active dry yeast
• 3½ to 4 cups (490g–570g) all-purpose flour
• ¾ tsp kosher salt
• Seeds from 3 cardamom pods, ground (optional)
• ¼ cup (56g) unsalted butter or non-dairy butter, softened
• ¼ cup sour cream or full-fat yogurt
• 2 large eggs
• Raisins or chocolate chips, for decorating
• 1 egg beaten with 1 tbsp water, for egg wash

Instructions

1. Heat the milk with the saffron and 1 teaspoon of sugar until steamy. Remove from heat and cool to about 115°F.
2. Sprinkle the yeast over the warm saffron milk and let sit 5–10 minutes until foamy.
3. Whisk together 3½ cups of the flour, the remaining sugar, salt, and cardamom in a large bowl.

4. Make a well in the center and add the yeast mixture, eggs, butter, and sour cream. Mix until incorporated, then switch to a dough hook.
5. Knead on low speed, gradually adding more flour as needed, until the dough is slightly sticky but manageable.
6. Shape into a ball, place in a large bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm spot for 1–2 hours until doubled. (Alternatively, refrigerate overnight for a slow rise.)
7. Gently press the dough down. Break into pieces and roll each into a roughly 14-inch rope. Curl each end in opposite directions to form an "S" shape. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

8. Cover and let rise in a warm spot for about 30 minutes until puffed.
9. Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C). Brush the buns with egg wash and press a raisin or chocolate chip into the center of each curl.
10. Bake for 10–11 minutes, turning the pan halfway through, until golden brown.
11. Cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Tip: For the best rise, find a warm, draft-free spot — near a radiator, or in a microwave after you've boiled a cup of water inside to create a warm, humid environment.