Norwegian-Style Cinnamon Rolls Vs American: What Sets Them Apart?

Americans certainly love cinnamon rolls. In the U.S., cinnamon rolls are a bakery staple, but outside the popular mall and airport Cinnabon chain, there aren't a lot of places dedicated to them. Not so in Norway. In the Scandinavian country, they are a beloved staple that come in multiple different styles, with even small towns often having dedicated bakeries that specialize in cinnamon rolls and buns. And when you see the difference between Norwegian-style cinnamon rolls and American ones, you start to understand, because they are usually lighter and much more suited to everyday consumption than the giant frosting-covered treats we eat in the U.S.

Cinnamon rolls in Norway come in a few different forms, with regional and local specialties. No description of them will be comprehensive, but some of the most common are skillingsboller. Skillingsboller is the rolled version of cinnamon buns that visually resembles the American cinnamon roll the most. 

The biggest difference is the topping. While American cinnamon rolls are slathered in icing or frosting (often cream cheese frosting), Norwegian buns are topped only with a light dusting of cinnamon sugar, granulated, or pearl sugar. The filling itself is also lighter, with the mixture of butter, cinnamon, and sugar being applied less liberally, so the rolls lack some of the gooey texture of the American style. While cinnamon sugar is still the standard flavoring, sometimes cardamom is added as an additional spice as well.

The other common style of cinnamon roll in Norway is the kanelsnurrer(also called kanelknuter), which has a similar light cinnamon-sugar flavor but a different shape. Instead of being rolled into the "snail" shape like skillingsboller and American cinnamon rolls, they are formed into knots. The Norwegian kanelsnurrer are basically identical to the cinnamon rolls that are also popular in Sweden and Denmark, and a similar shape is also used for cardamom buns. The knotting gives them a denser chew, but beyond that, kanelsnurrer are not too different from rolled cinnamon buns.

The lighter flavor and texture of Norwegian-style cinnamon rolls make them a bigger part of day-to-day eating habits in the country. Unlike American cinnamon rolls, which are far too heavy to be a staple, the Scandinavian versions are mainstays of the region's beloved coffee break tradition. In Norway, the tradition is called kaffeepause (literally coffee break), and is related to the similar tradition of fika in Sweden. Kaffeepause is a time to sit, relax, and socialize over coffee. Think of it like afternoon tea in England, although there is no set time for kaffeepause. 

Like afternoon tea, fika and kaffeepause usually involve light snacks, with cinnamon rolls being the most traditional choice. In fact, cinnamon rolls are so central to the culinary culture of Norway (and Sweden) that the country has its own national Cinnamon Roll Day holiday. It's not just the taste that sets Norwegian-style cinnamon rolls apart from the American; it's the meaning.