Fødselsdagsboller (Danish Birthday Buns)

A recipe for Fødselsdagsboller (Danish Birthday Buns)! These soft and pillowy rolls are perfect with butter and a glass of chocolate milk.

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Fødselsdagsboller (Danish Birthday Buns)

I came across Fødselsdagsboller while reviewing Cook Yourself Happy and they are such a fun treat for celebrations.

I first shared the buns in 2019 for the 7th anniversary of my blog and updated the recipe and photos today for my birthday!

These Fødselsdagsboller are made with a rich yeast dough lightly flavored with cardamom, salt, and sugar. The resulting soft and pillowy texture is especially delicious served warm with tandsmør, a layer of butter thick enough to leave tooth marks when you bite into it, and a glass of chokolademælk (chocolate milk).

The kids also enjoy them simply with jam. If desired, stick a little flag in the top of each bun before serving.

A Few Tips

I have made these buns with water and milk. I personally prefer the texture with the milk.

After combining the ingredients, the dough should be smooth and soft. If it is too crumbly, add a little more milk. Add a little more flour if too sticky to handle, but be careful not to add too much or it can cause the rolls to become tough.

In a warm kitchen, the first rise should take about one hour to double in size. During the winter or in cooler kitchens, it sometimes takes closer to 2 hours.

After rising, separate the dough into individual buns, arrange on baking sheets about 3 inches (7.5 centimeters) apart, and allowed to rise again for about 30 minutes or until they puff up a bit.

Brush the tops evenly with a beaten egg to help develop that beautiful golden color before baking in a 400˚F (200˚C) oven.

These Fødselsdagsboller are best the day they are made, but they can be frozen. Place the baked, cooled buns in an airtight freezer bag for up to 1-2 months. They can be reheated in a 325˚F (165˚C) oven until warmed.

Looking for more Danish recipes?

Try my:

• Brunede Kartofler (Danish Browned Potatoes)
• Kanelsnegle (Danish Cinnamon Rolls)
• Pandekager (Danish Pancakes)

This recipe was originally posted in October 2019 and updated in May 2023.

Fødselsdagsboller (Danish Birthday Buns) Recipe

Adapted from Cook Yourself Happy

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Fødselsdagsboller (Danish Birthday Buns)

A recipe for Fødselsdagsboller (Danish Birthday Buns)! These soft and pillowy rolls are perfect with butter and a glass of chocolate milk.

Course Bread

Cuisine Danish

Keyword bread, buns, cardamom, Danish, Denmark

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Resting Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 2 hours hours

Servings 12 Buns

Ingredients

• 1 cup (240 milliliters) lukewarm milk 105-115˚F, 40-46˚C
• 2 1/4 teaspoons (7 grams) active dry yeast
• 4 tablespoons (60 grams) unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
• 3 1/2 cups (435 grams) all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons (40 grams) granulated sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1 large egg

For topping:

• 1 egg

Instructions

• In a small bowl, sprinkle the yeast over the warm milk. Stir and allow to sit until the yeast is frothy, about 10 minutes.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough attachment or a large bowl, combine the milk with activated yeast and butter.
• Mix in the flour, sugar, salt, cardamom, and egg until a dough forms.
• On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough until soft and smooth. If it is too sticky to handle, add a little more flour (just enough to remove the stickiness- don't add too much or it will create tougher rolls).
• Place the dough back in the bowl, cover with plastic wrap or a towel, and allow to rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Line two baking trays with parchment or lightly grease.
• Divide the risen dough into 12 equal pieces.
• Roll each piece into a ball and place at least 3 inches (7.5 centimeters) apart on the prepared baking sheets.
• Cover with dish towels and allow to rise for another 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400˚F (200˚C).
• In a small bowl, beat the egg. Brush over the risen buns and bake in the preheated oven until golden, 10-12 minutes.
• Allow the buns to cool for about 10 minutes before slicing in half and serving with butter.