Santa Lucia

The Knight tried a new recipe this year per my request. We used a saffron recipe vs. the usual cardamon recipe. Trader Joe's had an exceptional price on saffron so he gave it a shot. This recipe requires much less work than the traditional one we have used. I'm not fond of the golden color the saffron turns the rolls, but the taste is out of this word. The reason this spice is the most expensive in the world is due to how much work it takes to yield so little volume. Do a google search. I've learned some amazing things about this spice. Happy St. Lucy's Day!


Recipe for Saffron Buns:

• 1/4 cup hot water
• 1/4 tsp crushed saffron threads
• 1 cup very warm milk
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) softened butter
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 2 tbs active dry yeast
• 3 1/2- 4 cups flour
• (Makes about 15 buns)

Optional Saffron Bun Toppings:

• 1 Beaten Egg
• Raisins
• Currents
• Other dried fruits
• Poppy Seeds
• Powdered Sugar
• Swedish Pearl Sugar (or White Sparkling Sugar Sprinkles)

Start by crushing your Saffron threads. I put mine on a paper plate, and crushed them with the back of a metal spoon. This way, when I was finished, I could just bend the paper plate and pour them into the measuring spoon with no waste! The 0.03 ounces of Saffron I crushed made 1/2 teaspoon of Saffron total. Put your crushed saffron into the hot water, and let it seep for at least 10 minutes. This turned the water golden instantly. In a large mixing bowl, mix your milk, sugar, butter, salt, egg, yeast, and saffron water. You can mix with a mixer, in the bread machine, or by hand. The golden color produced by the saffron is really impressive! There is no food coloring in this recipe! Add the flour slowly while you mix. Knead the dough for 6-8 minutes, and then place it in an oiled bowl covered with plastic wrap to rise. You should let it rise for about an hour. Punch the dough down, and gently shape into your saffron buns. The most traditional shape is a backwards “S” shape. You can also make it into wreaths and insert candles to simulate the crown St. Lucy wore on her head while bringing food to the poor. Once you have them shaped, cover with plastic wrap and let them rise again for about 15 minutes. Then, brush the top of each bun with beaten egg, and garnish as desired. Bake at 350 F in a preheated oven until golden brown (about 12 minutes) and serve immediately.