Top 14 Northern European Breads

Limppu is a whole rye bread that is traditionally prepared in eastern Finland. It typically consists of a sourdough starter, whole rye flour, warm water, and salt, and it is allowed to ferment overnight. Traditionally, the bread calls for using dried pieces of previous bread dough or a lump of dough saved from the previous bake as a starter. The soft and airy dough is shaped into a cone, and following the change of the cone shape into a flattened round loaf, the bread is baked until it’s nicely colored and produces a hollow sound when tapped on the bottom. The natural fermentation process gives limppu a distinctive, strongly acidic flavor and a slightly sweet nuttiness, while its consistency is rather dense with a soft crumb. This traditional rye bread is typically accompanied by butter, hard cheese, cold cuts, slices of smoked reindeer, and a glass of milk on the side. In Finland, people often prepare a loaf of limppu as a housewarming gift.Expand

Characterized by its dark brown color, rúgbrauð is a rich and dense Icelandic bread that was initially prepared solely with rye flour. It was traditionally steamed in underground pits that were located near numerous Icelandic geysers, and which provided heat for steaming. Nowadays, the somewhat heavy rye flour is usually combined with other flour types, buttermilk, and molasses to produce a lighter version of this classic. Often combined with various spreads and toppings, this subtly sweet bread is also blended with milk or buttermilk and enjoyed as a porridge or a nutritious dessert.Expand

Usually associated with Western Finland, ruisreikäleipä is one of many rye bread varieties present in traditional Finnish cuisine. This dense, rustic bread is traditionally baked in the form of a flat, round loaf with a hole in the middle. The hole was used to hang the bread on a pole, usually above the oven, allowing it to mature in a warm environment. With its pleasant sweet and sour flavors, it is a perfect accompaniment to hearty Finnish dishes and a common snack that is usually complemented by butter.Expand

Rugbrød is a brown rye bread from Denmark, typically used as a base for popular Danish open sandwiches. Usually, it is sliced thinly, buttered, and topped with ingredients such as smoked fish, shrimp, boiled eggs, liver pate, cucumbers, or mayonnaise. The bread is popular for being low in fat, containing no sugar or oil, and it is also very rich in dietary fiber and whole grains. It can be found at most Danish supermarkets or baked at home, and it comes in a few popular varieties: light rye bread, dark rye bread, sourdough rye bread, and coarse rye bread. Although it is a staple at most Danish tables, rye bread in its numerous varieties is also very popular in Finland, Russia, Iceland, Estonia, Germany, and Latvia.Expand

Saffransbullar is the Swedish version of a yellow, saffron-infused bun that is prepared with buttery yeasted dough and is often enriched with raisins or almond paste. The most popular version is known as lussekatt bun, a variety closely associated with St. Lucia’s Day, celebrated on December 13. Their name translates as St. Lucia’s cats, because the spiraled shape is reminiscent of curled cats. Various versions of saffron buns are typically enjoyed during Advent, and they perfectly pair with coffee or glögg - the Swedish version of spiced mulled wine.Expand

Kavring is a classic Swedish bread that started by traveling through the Nordic countries. It originated as a crisp rye bread in Norway, and then, in the late 1800s, it evolved into a slightly sweet, tender, and fragrant loaf in southern Sweden. The bread is typically made with a combination of plain flour, rye flour, salt, dark treacle syrup, baking powder, fennel, and caraway seeds. Traditionally, it is consumed at Midsommar, Easter, or Christmas with gravlax, pickled herring, Christmas ham, pickles, or hard-boiled eggs. On regular days, it is often consumed for breakfast with butter, cheese, or fruit jams, but it is also used for a variety of delicious sandwiches.Expand

This traditional Finnish delicacy is best described as a rusk—the crispy, twice-baked bread. It is usually prepared with various types of bread rolls or the sweet, cardamom-spiced pulla bread. Korppu comes in numerous sweet or savory versions, but it is traditionally thinly sliced, dusted with cinnamon sugar, and baked until crispy. Sweet versions are often enjoyed as an accompaniment to coffee or tea.Expand

Kneippbrød is a traditional bread originating from Norway that's named after Sebastian Kneipp, a 19th-century Bavarian priest, who is credited with being the first person to use the whole grain (shell, kernel, and germ) when making bread. Although there are many variations on the bread, it's usually made with 100% whole wheat flour, yeast, salt, milk, water, and rapeseed oil. The smooth and firm dough is proofed and baked in buttered loaf pans until golden brown. The bread came to Norway in 1895, and nowadays it's one of the most popular types of bread in the country.Expand

Sirkkaleipä is a unique bread from Finland, containing about 70 dried house crickets in the dough. The bread is produced by a large food company called Fazer. The crickets are ground into a fine powder, then added to the flour before baking. This nutritious bread is a great source of protein, and it also contains iron, calcium, vitamin B12, and good fatty acids. However, due to the fact that the insects make up 3% of the loaf's weight, the price of sirkkaleipä is much higher than regular bread.Expand