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Celebrate Fat Tuesday Like They Do In Sweden: By Eating A Semla

By Mina Bloom | February 17, 2015 9:06am
 Swedes celebrate Fat Tuesday by eating semlor, which are marzipan-filled buns topped with whipped cream.
Swedes celebrate Fat Tuesday by eating semlor, which are marzipan-filled buns topped with whipped cream.
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Courtesy/Swedish American Museum

ANDERSONVILLE — Rather than indulging in paczki, try celebrating Fat Tuesday with a Swedish treat instead.

Swedes celebrate Fat Tuesday by eating semlor, which are marzipan-filled buns topped with whipped cream. And from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, the Swedish American Museum, 5211 N. Clark St., is selling them at a pop-up cafe in its gallery.

A cup of coffee and a semla will set you back $5.

While both treats are traditionally eaten before Lent, paczki are more like doughnuts, and semlor are best described as yeast buns, according to Lesli Nordstrom, marketing manager for the museum. 

The Swedish treats are made by scooping out the middle of a cardamom-spiced wheat bun, mixing it with almond paste and whipped cream, putting the filling back in the bun and cutting the top off so it serves as a lid, Nordstrom said. The bun is then topped with whipped cream and powdered sugar.

Another reason semlor are different than paczki: They were originally eaten in bowls of warm milk, Nordstrom said. The tradition, known as hetväg in Swedish, is upheld by some people, but nowadays most people enjoy the Swedish treats sans milk, she said.

Those who buy semlor from the pop-up cafe do not have to pay a museum entrance fee. But standard entrance fees apply for those who wish to see the museum's permanent exhibits. Tickets cost $5 for adults and $3 for children, students and seniors. Museum members and children under 1 get in free.

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