Here’s another one to add to your favorite carrot recipes! Finnish Carrot Bread Rolls! These bread rolls are a comforting combo of softness and sweetness, and they’re not even that complicated to prepare!
To be honest, this was a bit of a surprise for me. I’ve been living in Stockholm for more than ten years now, been traveling back and forth in the entire Nordics and have not seen a single vegetable used in any Nordic bread – it’s always seeds, nuts or dried fruits. Not vegetable. Maybe in newer recipes, or with some fusion. But this carrot bread recipe, is a traditional one from the Finnish cuisine. It goes way, way, waaayyy back.
How to make Finnish Carrot Bread Rolls
Which type of flour to use in making these carrot rolls?
Unlike other bread rolls recipe that I have, I have only used all-purpose flour for this recipe. Full disclosure: I did not even bother trying with bread flour because I was so happy with the result using all-purpose flour. It’s actually a very forgiving recipe. The wetness of the dough will always vary because of the moisture in the grated carrots. So, do not hesitate to add a bit more flour when preparing the dough – that’s just normal. The dough should be firm and smooth enough to form a ball.
Can I skip the stand mixer and knead the dough manually?
Yes, you can. Back in the days, that’s exactly how the Finns did it. I know that some people add the ingredients in a different sequence. Some add the carrots last, while others add the butter last (like I do). I have tried various process, and I feel that starting with the dry ingredients, followed by semi-dry (carrots), and finally the wet ingredients — give me my desired result in how the ingredients are combined in the dough.
What goes well with this type of carrot bread?
You would think that because there is a slight sweetness in these rolls, spreading some marmalade on them is an over-kill, eh? Nope. It makes it a match made-in-heaven. 🙂 Butter, marmalade or gorgonzola (or any kind of blue cheese) – they all go well with these bread rolls.
That means, Finnish carrot bread rolls are great for breakfast, in-between or after-meal snack! The drink then – coffee, tea or wine – is up to you. 🙂
For other bread ideas, check out these recipes:
Video on how to make Finnish Carrot Bread Rolls
(*This post contains some affiliate links)
MY AMAZON PICKS:
- 3/4 cup milk, warm
- 1 tbsp active dry yeast
- 2 & 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 & 1/2 cups carrots, grated, (about 2 medium-sized carrots)
- 1 tbsp honey
- 25 grams butter, unsalted, softened
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Combine warm milk and yeast. Mix. Set aside.
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Combine all-purpose flour, salt, grated carrots and honey in a mixer bowl. Use paddle attachment to mix.
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Once yeast mixture is ready, add to the mixer bowl. Use a dough hook to mix. Add softened butter and continue mixing until dough becomes smooth. If dough is too wet, add a tablespoon of flour (or two, one at a time).
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Form the dough into a ball and place ball of dough into an oiled bowl. Cover with clean kitchen cloth and set aside until the size of the dough has doubled. This normally takes at least an hour for me.
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Divide dough into 12 equal parts and form each part into a ball. Place each ball of dough on a baking pan with a baking sheet. Leave enough space in between each ball. Once all balls (rolls) are in the baking pan, cover with clean kitchen cloth and set aside for 30 more minutes, or until each roll has doubled in size.
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Preheat oven to 200°C (375°F).
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Once oven is ready, remove kitchen cloth covering the rolls and place baking pan in the middle of the oven.
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Once the rolls have slightly darkened on top (takes 20 to 25 minutes), take the pan out of the oven. Set aside to cool slightly.
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Serve.
Can you please clarify the amount of carrots please ?
Good grief! I was about to add ‘about 2 medium-sized carrots’ when I noticed it says ‘1 & 172 cups’?! It should have been 1 & 1/2 cups. All updated now. 🙂
Thanks so much for bringing it to my attention Naterlee! 🙂
Awesome ty!! I have an excess of carrots that need using up so will look forward to giving these a try tomorrow ?
Me again sorry does the butter go in the dough or brushed on the rolls? ? thanks
Oj! It goes in the dough. It’s now corrected. 🙂 No need to apologize Naterlee — my bad. Too much wine when I clicked ‘publish’ for the post. 😉
Hope you like the rolls! 🙂
I guessed in the dough! just pulled them out the oven and inhaled two oopppsss. I did them 50/50 plain white and strong bread and put some thyme in too and they are AMAZING!
*strong brown bread
I am loving the sound of these carrot bread rolls and the fact that these use a very few ingredients. Thanks for this post.
Thanks Neha! 🙂
I’ve seen anything like this before and it looks perfect!! Carrots and honey in there?! What a tasty idea! Perfect for Easter and Spring meals!
I love these rolls! They look so soft and tasty. I’ve added veggies mixed into my biscuits but never in my rolls. Thanks for introducing me to this traditional recipe.
When I read that you could spread gorgonzola over these rolls, I was in! What a yummy twist on a normal dinner roll. Thanks for the great recipe
When I read that you could spread gorgonzola or blue cheese over these rolls, I was in! What a yummy twist on a normal dinner roll. Thanks for the great recipe
This is genius, I love carrots and would never have thought to make carrot rolls, I love the colors and texture looks amazing!
Wow, I haven’t tried any Finnish bread but now I’m sold and I can’t wait to try it, I love the texture and the shredded carrots give the rolls a lovely color.
This is such a unique recipe (at least to me). I like pretty much any kind of yeasted roll so I’d like to try these!
wow these look amazing! I’ve never heard of them before! i always have a ton of carrots in our fridge that I never know what to do with, and now I do!
These look awesome!! I actually wanted to make something with carrots today, but I looked in my fridge and they all went bad. 🙁 Gotta buy some more so that I can make these bread rolls!
wondering where I can find the history of these. would like to cook with my students and talk about its history.