Cinnamon Buns

From Swedish Fika to Sydney’s Favourite Bake

There are plenty of Swedish foods worth celebrating, but few hold quite the same place in our hearts as the humble cinnamon bun.

In Sweden, the smell of freshly baked cinnamon buns – buttery dough, warm cinnamon and sugar – is often tied to childhood memories. Perhaps it was your mum or dad baking at home, your grandmother making a batch for afternoon fika, or the anticipation of finding a freshly baked bun waiting in the kitchen.

Today, cinnamon buns have travelled far beyond Sweden. From Stockholm to New York, London to Sydney, the humble bun has become a global favourite. And here in Sydney, cinnamon scrolls and cinnamon buns have well and truly become a thing.

Why are cinnamon buns suddenly everywhere?

There’s something irresistible about a freshly baked cinnamon bun. Soft, buttery dough wrapped around cinnamon, sugar and butter, baked until golden and fragrant. It is familiar, comforting and just indulgent enough.

Over the past few years, cinnamon buns have experienced something of a worldwide revival. Bakeries and cafés have taken the classic idea and run with it, creating everything from oversized cinnamon scrolls and twisted buns to elaborate versions piled high with toppings.

You’ll find cinnamon scrolls topped with cream cheese frosting, caramel, chocolate, nuts, fresh fruit and all sorts of creative combinations. Social media has certainly helped fuel the obsession, with enormous, glossy and perfectly swirled cinnamon rolls becoming an Instagram and TikTok favourite.

But while the toppings and shapes may change, we still think the original Swedish cinnamon bun is hard to beat.

What makes a Swedish cinnamon bun different?

The Swedish cinnamon bun, or kanelbulle, is a little different from the large, gooey cinnamon rolls that have become popular around the world.

Traditional Swedish buns are usually made from a lightly sweetened, cardamom-scented dough. The dough is rolled out and spread with a mixture of butter, sugar and cinnamon before being folded, twisted or rolled into shape.

Rather than being covered in thick icing, Swedish cinnamon buns are traditionally finished with pearl sugar and baked until golden.

The result is a bun that is buttery and fragrant, with just the right amount of sweetness. You get the warmth of cinnamon, the subtle spice of cardamom and that satisfying combination of soft, fluffy dough and slightly caramelised edges.

And, of course, it is best enjoyed with a cup of coffee.

Cinnamon buns vs cinnamon scrolls – what’s the difference?

Depending on where you live, you might know them as cinnamon buns, cinnamon rolls or cinnamon scrolls.

In Australia, “cinnamon scroll” has become a particularly familiar name, with Sydney bakeries and cafés offering their own versions – from classic spirals to giant scrolls loaded with toppings.

Technically, there are plenty of differences between the traditional Swedish kanelbulle and the modern cinnamon scroll. Some are tightly twisted, some are rolled into spirals, some are enormous and gooey, and others are covered in icing.

But whatever you call them, the appeal is the same: warm, sweet, buttery dough and plenty of cinnamon.

The worldwide cinnamon bun obsession

It’s easy to see why cinnamon buns have become such a global phenomenon.

They are photogenic. They smell incredible. They are comforting. And they work just as well alongside your morning coffee as they do as an afternoon treat.

The modern cinnamon bun has also become a playground for bakers. Alongside the classic cinnamon version, you’ll find buns inspired by chocolate, caramel, pistachio, berries, vanilla and more. Some are topped with generous swirls of frosting, while others are deliberately kept simple.

At Fika, we love seeing all the different versions out there. But we also love introducing Sydney to the Swedish original – because you don't need to cover a great cinnamon bun in a mountain of icing to make it special.

Cinnamon Bun Day – a very Swedish celebration

If you need another excuse to eat a cinnamon bun, Sweden has you covered.

Kanelbullens Dag – Swedish Cinnamon Bun Day – is celebrated every year on 4 October.

The tradition began in 1999, when Sweden’s Hembakningsrådet (Home Baking Council) introduced the day to celebrate the cinnamon bun and encourage people to bake at home.

It has since become one of Sweden’s most loved food days. On 4 October, bakeries, cafés, workplaces and homes across the country get involved, and Swedes happily enjoy an extra kanelbulle or two.

It’s a celebration that feels very Swedish: simple, social and centred around good baking and good company.

Cinnamon buns and the art of fika

At Fika, we believe a cinnamon bun is about more than the bun itself.

It’s about fika – taking a moment to slow down, sit with someone and enjoy something delicious together. It might be a morning coffee with a friend, an afternoon break from work, or simply a quiet moment with a freshly baked bun.

That’s why cinnamon buns have such a special place in Swedish culture. They are not just something you eat when you’re hungry. They are part of a ritual.

For Swedes living overseas, that first bite of a proper Swedish cinnamon bun can also bring back a surprising number of memories. The smell of the dough, the cinnamon, the cardamom and the coffee can transport you straight back to Sweden.

And perhaps that’s why we love baking them so much here in Sydney.

Looking for the best cinnamon buns in Sydney?

If you’re searching for the best cinnamon buns in Sydney, or looking for a Swedish bakery serving traditional cinnamon scrolls in Sydney, come and try ours at Fika.

We bake our cinnamon buns fresh, using the traditional Swedish approach: soft, buttery dough, cinnamon, sugar and plenty of cardamom, finished with pearl sugar.

You’ll find them at both venues in Manly, where our bakers make the buns fresh alongside our other Swedish breads, cakes and pastries. But for more eloborate versions, go to the bakery. 

Whether you call it a cinnamon bun, cinnamon scroll, cinnamon roll or kanelbulle, we think there’s nothing quite like eating one fresh from the bakery with a good coffee.

Welcome to Swedish fika – one cinnamon bun at a time.