Korvapuusti
Finnish cardamom cinnamon rolls — the heart of every coffee break in the world's biggest coffee-drinking nation.
Comfort Food
Family Friendly
Ingredients
- For the dough:
- 500g all-purpose flour
- 7g instant yeast
- 80g sugar
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 250ml warm milk
- 80g butter, melted
- 1 egg
- Pinch of salt
- For the filling:
- 60g soft butter
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- For topping:
- 1 egg, beaten (egg wash)
- Pearl sugar or crushed sugar cubes
Instructions
- 1 Mix flour, yeast, sugar, cardamom, and salt. Add warm milk, melted butter, and egg. Knead 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- 2 Cover and let rise 1 hour until doubled.
- 3 Roll dough into a large rectangle, about 40x50cm.
- 4 Spread soft butter evenly over the surface. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.
- 5 Roll up tightly from the long side into a log.
- 6 Cut into 15-16 pieces, about 3cm wide. Place each piece cut-side up, then pinch the center from underneath to create the ear shape — push the two sides up.
- 7 Place on lined baking sheets, spaced apart. Cover and let rise 30 minutes.
- 8 Preheat oven to 200°C (390°F). Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with pearl sugar.
- 9 Bake 12-14 minutes until golden. Cool on a wire rack.
- 10 Serve with strong Finnish coffee.
About This Recipe
Finland consumes more coffee per capita than any country on earth, and korvapuusti is what goes with it. These cardamom-scented cinnamon rolls are found in every café, office, and kitchen across Finland.
The name means "slapped ears" — from the shape, which resembles a pinched ear. The dough is enriched with cardamom (the secret Finnish ingredient), filled with butter, cinnamon, and sugar, then shaped, egg-washed, and topped with pearl sugar before baking. Less sweet than American cinnamon rolls, more fragrant, and somehow more satisfying.
