Saffranspannkaka facts for kids
Saffranspannkaka with dewberry jam and whipped cream.
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| Course | Dessert | ||||||
| Place of origin | Sweden | ||||||
| Region or state | Gotland | ||||||
| Invented | Circa 19th century | ||||||
| Cooking time | 20 minutes to 1 hour 15 min | ||||||
| Serving temperature | Lukewarm or cold | ||||||
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| Ingredients generally used |
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| 390 kcal (1633 kJ)Arla.se | |||||||
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| Other information | Store-bought rice pudding is commonly used as it shortens the cooking time considerably. | ||||||
Saffranspannkaka is a special dessert from the island of Gotland in Sweden. It's also known as Gotlandspannkaka, which means "Gotland pancake" in English. This tasty treat is made with pudding rice, cream, milk, sugar, eggs, chopped almonds, and a special spice called saffron.
You can eat saffranspannkaka warm or cold. Traditionally, it's served with sweet dewberry jam and fluffy whipped cream. If someone has an allergy to almonds, they can easily be left out of the recipe.
Contents
The Story of Saffranspannkaka
How Old is Saffron Pancake?
The idea of making saffron pancakes goes way back to the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Back then, rich people would enjoy fancy rice puddings that were colored and flavored. The island of Gotland was part of a powerful trading group called the Hansa. This meant people on Gotland had access to exciting spices from far away, and they were wealthy enough to use them.
Using rice, almonds, saffron, and sugar together made this dish very special. It was much more exclusive than saffron bread, which had been around since the 1500s.
Pancakes for Special Days
Oven-baked pancakes were usually served only during big celebrations. People on Gotland have been making them since the 1700s. Adding fine flour and eggs made these pancakes even more festive.
By the 1800s, it became common to put sugar, saffron, and raisins in pancakes. The saffranspannkaka we know today, made with pudding rice and baked in an oven, is a type of pudding dessert. These kinds of puddings became popular in the 1800s when wooden stoves made cooking easier.
Saffranspannkaka and Celebrations
Saffranspannkaka is often linked to Christmas because it can be made with leftover Christmas pudding. But in the 1800s and 1900s, it was also served at other important events like anniversaries, weddings, and even funerals.
The tradition of eating jam with the pancake also started in the 1800s. At that time, sugar became cheaper, and sweet jams became a very popular addition to desserts. We don't know for sure if saffranspannkaka was first created on Gotland or if someone brought the recipe to the island.
A Symbol of Gotland
In the second half of the 1900s, saffranspannkaka became a well-known symbol for tourism on Gotland. You'll often find it served at restaurants that are open for tourists in the summer and in other places where local Gotland food is highlighted. It has even been named Gotland's official provincial dish!
