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–+ servings

School Bread

School Bread (or Skolebrød in Norwegian) is a beloved Norwegian pastry that’s part sweet roll, part custard treat. It’s made from a soft, cardamom-spiced bun — similar to a sweet roll dough — that’s filled with rich vanilla custard in the center. After baking, it’s frosted with a thin layer of icing and then dipped in shredded coconut around the top.
The name “School Bread” comes from its history: in Norway, parents used to pack it in their children’s lunches or buy it for special school events, so it became associated with schooldays and comfort.
It’s one of those pastries that’s both simple and nostalgic — sweet but not too heavy, with that perfect mix of fragrant dough, creamy filling, and coconut texture.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Rising Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine European, Norwegian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 280 kcal
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Ingredients
 
 

For the dough

For the custard filling

For topping

Instructions
 

Make the dough

  • In a bowl, combine warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let stand about 5–10 minutes, until foamy.
  • Stir in cardamom, salt, and butter. Gradually mix in enough flour to form a soft, slightly sticky dough.
  • Knead for about 5 minutes (either by hand or in a mixer) until smooth and elastic.
  • Cover and let rise in a warm spot about 1 hour, or until doubled.

Prepare the custard

  • In a small saucepan, whisk together egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch.
  • Slowly add milk while whisking.
  • Heat over medium, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens into a smooth pastry cream (about 5 minutes).
  • Remove from heat, stir in vanilla, cover the surface with plastic wrap to prevent skin from forming, and cool completely.

Shape the buns

  • Divide risen dough into 4 equal pieces. Shape each into a smooth ball, flatten slightly.
  • Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  • Press a shallow well into the center of each (for the custard).
  • Cover and let rise again 30 minutes while preheating oven to 180°C (350°F).

Add filling and bake

  • Spoon or pipe cooled custard into the center of each bun.
  • Bake for 12–15 minutes, until golden brown.
  • Let cool on a rack.

Finish

  • Mix powdered sugar with just enough water or milk to make a thick, spreadable icing.
  • When buns are cool, spread icing around the custard area and dip into shredded coconut.
Start Cooking
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Nutrition

Calories: 280kcal (14%)Carbohydrates: 51g (17%)Protein: 8g (16%)Fat: 8g (12%)Saturated Fat: 4g (25%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 107mg (36%)Sodium: 39mg (2%)Potassium: 156mg (4%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 14g (16%)Vitamin A: 310IU (6%)Vitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 95mg (10%)Iron: 2mg (11%)
Disclaimer

Nutritional information for this recipe is an approximation and is not to be construed as medical advice.

Keyword comfort food, homemade, pastry, sweet
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