Scandinavian · dessert
Semla
Semla reads sweetness 6.4, richness 6.2 and nutty 4.6 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Scandinavian dessert, about 1 hr 5 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 3.4 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 6.5 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 0.4 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 1.3 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 7.6 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 3.5 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Sweetness 6.4 · Richness 6.2 · Nutty 4.6 · Warm Spice 3.2 · Funk & Ferment 3.2 · Umami 2.4 · Floral 2.4 · Earthy 1.3 · Herbaceous 0.8 · Bitterness 0.7 · Fruity 0.6
What's in it (10)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/4 tsp yeast
- 3/4 cup warm milk
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 7 oz almond paste (marzipan filling)
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream, whipped
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar
Time & effort: about 1 hr 5 min (35 min active) · effort: medium
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 418.1 kcal, 13 g protein, 24.4 g fat, 37.3 g carbs
Dietary: Vegetarian · Contains dairy · Contains egg — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (3 steps)
- Make a cardamom-scented enriched dough, shape into buns, and bake at 200°C until lightly golden.
- Once cooled, slice off the top, hollow out some of the interior, and mix the crumb with almond paste and a splash of cream to make a filling.
- Pipe whipped cream over the filling, replace the lid at an angle, and dust generously with powdered sugar.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Halva (Irmik Helvasi) — Turkish
- Cinnamon Buns (Kanelbullar) — Scandinavian
- Dabo (Ethiopian Celebration Bread) — Ethiopian
- Kulfi — Indian
- Sellou (Sfouf) — Moroccan
Keep reading: what sweetness, richness, nutty mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.