Norway’s best cinnamon buns
Most people will know them as cinnamon rolls or cinnamon buns, but these are only the most commercial and globalized version of the sweet symbol of Scandinavian tradition. Whether they are soft, leavened Finnish Kanelbulls, sinful Danish Kanelsnegle, covered with sticky frosting, or swirling Swedish Skillingsbollers, the concept is the same, a soft brioche with a drop-dead cinnamon scent.
The Norwegian version of this magic food is called Kanelsnurrer, and has conquered our taste with a thousand variations, more or less aromatic, buttery or puffy, with cardamom or brown sugar. We didn't miss an opportunity to plunge a kanelsnurrer in our cappuccino for breakfast, obviously wherever there was some sign of civilization that included a bakery.
From south to north of Norway, from the southern coast to Tromso, on land or on the islands, we have tasted a variety of cinnamon buns to bust from envy a local inhabitant.
I proudly present you our Top 10, the ten bakeries that have baked, in our opinion, the best Kanelsnurrer in Norway.
Use precautions: they are disproportionately large, and in most cases, one brioche can easily satisfy the appetite of two!
BAKERIET I BAGN, Aurdal
The first on our list caught us by surprise. We bought a kanelsnurrer from this bakery, on the fly, in a small supermarket, with few expectations.
The brioche is buttery, super soft and fragrant at the same time. I am sure that if you have the chance to taste a freshly baked one, you will love it.
LUSTRABUI, Sogndal and Luster
It is said to be the best bakery in Norway, and we can at least testify that the brioche deserves the trip. The original location is in Sogndal, where the bakery is very large and well stocked. The one in Luster is a small and new branch, where, however you will be spoiled for choice: the bread is fabulous too.
We have obviously tried a kanelsnurrer, but also kveitebollar, soft milk bun with raisins, maybe even more tasty.
BAKERIET I LOM, Lom
This bakery, housed in a sort of revisited barn, in an overcrowded touristic town in southern Norway, seems to be the superstar of Norwegian bakeries and it is known throughout the country.
It follows that you will have to wait patiently in a very long queue, who order bags full of brioches at any time of the day. Don't worry, even if the lady in front of you has ordered four bags full of kanelsnurrer and has dangerously emptied the baskets of the counter, the brioches are baked continuously, and you won't be left with empty bags.
Both kanelsnurrer and kveitebollar are excellent, but the difference from other less famous bakeries, is not such as to justify the long wait.
KAFFEBRENNERIET, Trondheim
Full marks for the location: this café is located in a historic house overlooking the canal port of Trondheim, a well preserved wooden building.
And the kanelsnurrer... for us deserve fourth place in the ranking! Right buttery, fragrant and also smaller than the standard gigantic size.
TOLLBODEN BAKERI, Flekkefjord
White wooden house, on a stretch of water, next to the pier. And so far, nothing new. We came in to warm up a bit while we were walking around Flekkefjord, and with a little skepticism. We went for a cinnamon swirl, which, frankly, didn't seem particularly inviting.
Initial impression was completely wrong, since this was one of the best kanelsnurrer eaten in Norway. Super fluffy, super cinnamon-y, super light, super recommended!
BAKERIET I Å, Lofoten
In Å, on the island of Moskenesoya, Lofoten, there is not much to do, and there are certainly not many activities, apart from the stockfish museum. But the tiny bakery named after the place bakes really excellent rolls.
HANSINES BAKERI, Nusfjord Lofoten
It's located a bit out of the main nucleus of the very small town of Nusfjord, but it won't be difficult for you to find it: as soon as you step out of the car, at the entrance of the town, you will be hit by a caramelized scent of cinnamon and bread that will make you forget the purpose of your visit (probably visiting the fishing village) and devote your energies to sniffing the direction of the bakery.
Boxes full of scented brioches: you will find it hard to choose what to buy.
FRICH’S at KONGSVOLD FJELDSTUE, Dovrefjell Nasionalpark
We took shelter in this picturesque inn to dry off after a musk ox safari under the incessant rain, and ordered something to warm up ourselves. Surprisingly we received a very good giant cinnamon braid and, even better, the hot cinnamon apple pie, to try!
RACCOON, Ålesund
We stopped in this cafe to have breakfast in Ålesund. The place is very nice and cozy, modern and intimate. The cinnamon brioche was really delicious, although too sugary, much more similar to Danish brioche. But the real surprise was the Svele, a bizarre product widespread in central Norway.
It is a pancake, spiced with cardamom, with butter and stuffed with brunost, a cheese with a caramelized flavor and brown color typical of this country. It seems to be the typical snack served by the fjords ferries, and we were intrigued. In this coffee was really good, taste it if you have the opportunity.
GODT BRØD, Bergen
It is a franchise of bakeries that you will find in larger city centers. Here the concept of cinnamon roll has been scaled for 3: large and good cinnamon rolls. There are a thousands variations of kanelsnurrer, with creams for example or other sinful toppings.
