When it comes to sweet treats made with cinnamon, one bake instantly springs to mind: the cinnamon roll. Let's take a closer look at this much-loved pastry.
What Is a Cinnamon Roll?
A cinnamon roll is a sweet, spiral-shaped bake made by rolling out a yeast-leavened dough and rolling it up into a coil. It is sprinkled with ground cinnamon and sugar, and some versions also have a cinnamon filling tucked inside.
The cinnamon roll belongs to the baked pastry family, since it has to be baked to cook through. Its main ingredients are flour, sugar, butter and cinnamon (ground cinnamon).
Depending on where it comes from and how it is shaped, the cinnamon roll goes by many names, including cinnamon bun, cinnamon swirl, Danish cinnamon and cinnamon snail.
Where Did the Cinnamon Roll Come From?
The very first cinnamon roll is said to have been baked in Sweden. It is believed to have developed from existing baked goods after cinnamon was introduced into European cooking: Roman spice traders brought cinnamon from Sri Lanka to Europe. The Swedes who created the cinnamon roll called it kanelbulle, which translates literally as "cinnamon bun".
Cinnamon Roll Day
In 1999, Sweden designated 4 October each year, described as the day the cinnamon roll was first created, as Cinnamon Roll Day (Kanelbullens dag). It became an annual occasion established for marketing purposes.
Sweden is not the only country to celebrate. Finland has adopted the tradition too, also marking 4 October every year as Cinnamon Roll Day (Korvapuustipäivä).
How Cinnamon Rolls Differ
Cinnamon rolls from different regions use similar ingredients and share the same spiral shape, but their size can vary noticeably. Most bakeries make cinnamon rolls about 5 cm across, while larger 10 cm versions can be found in Finland, where they are called korvapuusti.
