• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Food and Journeys®
  • WORLD CUISINES
  • HOW-TOS
  • ABOUT
    • About Me
    • Notes on Copyright
    • Privacy Policy
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Categories
  • Countries
  • Global Pantry
  • About Me
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Categories
    • Countries
    • Global Pantry
    • About Me
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Bread

    Swedish Cheese Buns (Ostfrallor)

    Published: Sep 5, 2021 · Modified: Mar 13, 2024 by Neriz · This post contains some affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Swedish Cheese Buns, locally known as ‘Ostfrallor,’ are easy to make—even without a stand mixer!  They’re deliciously soft bread that’s great for breakfast or for making sandwiches any time of the day!

    An overhead shot of freshly baked Swedish cheese buns on a cooling rack.

    Similar to limpa bread, these Swedish cheese buns are so good that you can eat them on their own, but they’re also excellent with butter or marmalade.

    The best part?  They are perfect for making sandwiches.  

    You don’t believe me?  Drop by (almost) any coffee shop in the morning in Stockholm, and you will see these ostfrallor prepared with cured meat, vegetables, and cheese—all wrapped in plastic—as part of ‘to-go breakfast.’

    Now you can give them a try yourself! 

    IF YOU WANT MORE TRADITIONAL SWEDISH BREAKFAST RECIPES, THEN YOU WILL LIKE THESE POSTS!

    • Latest (May23) feature image for pyttipanna, showing the Swedish hash served with beets and fried egg.
      Pyttipanna (Swedish Hash)
    • A closer shot of kanelbullar on a cooling rack, highlighting the filling of the buns.
      Swedish Cinnamon Buns (Kanelbullar)

    Ingredients

    All the ingredients you need to have to make Swedish cheese buns at home.
    • Flour – I strongly suggest using bread flour for this cheese buns recipe.
    • Honey – just use your favorite brand.
    • Egg – you would only be using this for the egg wash.
    • Yeast – I always use active dry yeast for making Swedish breakfast buns.
    • Butter – unsalted and softened.
    • Salt – use a bit less if you are using salted butter.
    • Milk – whole cream milk, if possible.
    • Cheese – I always use grated Emmental cheese for making ostfrallor (note that you would only be using the cheese on top of the buns).
    A closer shot of ostfrallor on a cooling rack, focusing on the melted cheese on top.

    Preparation

    Start preparing your cheese bread by combining half a cup of warm milk, half a cup of warm water, and the yeast.

    Preparing the yeast is the first step in making Swedish breakfast buns topped with cheese.

    Mix and set aside until it becomes foamy.

    Combine flour and salt in your stand mixer bowl and mix.

    Add the yeast mixture, honey, and butter.

    Adding butter and yeast into the dry ingredients to make Swedish cheese buns.

    Mix with a paddle attachment until a dough starts to form, then switch to a dough hook and keep mixing until you get a smooth dough.

    Form the cheese bun dough into a ball and place it in an oiled bowl.

    Smooth dough of ostfrallor ready for proofing.

    Cover with a clean kitchen towel and set aside until it doubles in size — usually takes about ninety minutes.

    Punch the dough in the center to deflate it, then transfer it to a flat surface to knead it a bit.

    Cut it into six equal portions.

    Dividing the dough into portions to form cheese buns that are perfect for Swedish breakfast.

    Form each portion into a ball and place them on a baking tray lined with baking paper.

    Forming cheese buns into a ball, one of Sweden's bread for breakfast.

    Cover with a kitchen cloth and set aside until they increase in size (generally takes at least thirty minutes).

    Once the buns are almost ready, preheat your oven to 220°C (400 to 420°F).

    Prepare the egg wash by mixing the egg with two tablespoons of water.

    Brush each bun with the egg wash, then (generously) top it with the grated cheese.

    Adding cheese on top of Swedish breakfast buns, before placing them in the oven.

    Place the cheese buns in the middle of the oven for twenty-five to thirty minutes, or until they turned golden.

    Set aside to cool.

    Serve your ostfrallor with your favorite jam, butter or use them for making sandwiches!

    Three pieces of cheese buns served with some marmalade, and a tall mug of latte.

    Helpful tips

    • This cheese bun dough is easy to handle, and manual kneading is an excellent workaround if you don’t have a stand mixer.
    • Do not use all the flour right away.

    Instead, start with the amount in cups, then slowly add the remaining flour in tablespoons if the dough is too wet.

    • It’s completely fine to use pre-grated cheese — that’s what I always do when I prepare ostfrallor.
    • Feel free to form your ostfrallor into smaller cheese buns if that’s what you prefer.  

    This Swedish recipe yields six cheese buns that’s perfectly sized for serving with hamburgers as well.

    A cheese bun sliced in half, with marmalade spread on it, with a chunk of butter and a mug of coffee on the background as well.

    Recipe variation

    • All-purpose flour.  You can use all-purpose flour, but the result would not be as soft and fluffy.  

    Also, note that the dough will be more wet because it needs less moisture than bread flour.

    • Other cheese. Gruyere is a great alternative when you cannot find Emmental cheese.
    A close shot of a homemade sandwich prepared for a typical Swedish breakfast.

    FAQ

    Can I freeze these Swedish breakfast buns?

    Absolutely.

    Ensure they’re completely cooled, then wrap them tightly before placing them in the freezer for extended storage.

    Looks absolutely yummy, right?  Well, they are! So, try these Swedish cheese buns this weekend and let me know!

    OR GET MORE IDEAS FROM THIS LIST OF BREAKFAST RECIPES AROUND THE WORLD!

    FOR MORE GLOBAL DISHES, CHECK OUT THESE INTERNATIONAL RECIPES BY COUNTRY!

    • Feature image for Traditional Spanish Recipes, a pan of espinacas con garbanzos.
      Traditional Spanish Recipes
    • Feature image for German Recipes post.
      Authentic German Recipes

    📖 Recipe

    Swedish Cheese Buns cooling on a rack, ready for breakfast.

    Swedish Cheese Buns Recipe (Ostfrallor)

    Swedish Cheese Buns, locally known as 'Ostfrallor,' are easy to make—even without a stand mixer!  They're deliciously soft bread that's great for breakfast or for making sandwiches any time of the day.  Give them a try!
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Bread
    Cuisine: Swedish
    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Resting Time:: 2 hours hours
    Total Time: 3 hours hours
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 307kcal
    Author: Neriz

    Equipment

    • Mixing Bowls
    • Pyrex Measuring Cups
    • Measuring Spoons
    • Stand Mixer
    • Dough Cutter
    • Baking Paper (Parchment Paper)

    Ingredients

    Cheese bread dough:

    • 2 & 1/4 tsp yeast
    • 1/2 cup milk, warm
    • 1 & 1/2 tsp honey
    • 360 to 390 grams flour (about 2 & 1/3 cups + 3 tablespoons)
    • 1/2 tsp salt
    • 25 grams butter (about 2 tablespoons), softened

    Egg wash & topping:

    • 2 tbsp water
    • 1/2 cup cheese, grated & heaping

    Instructions

    Preparing dough for cheese buns:

    • Start by combining warm milk with 1/2 cup of warm water and the yeast. 
    • Mix and set aside until it becomes foamy.
    • Using your stand mixer's bowl, combine flour and salt.
    • Add the yeast mixture, honey, and softened butter.
    • Use a paddle attachment to mix until a dough starts to form.
    • Switch to the dough hook attachment and continue mixing until you get a smooth dough.
    • Form the cheese bread dough into a ball and place it in an oiled bowl.
    • Cover it with a clean kitchen towel and set aside until it doubles in size.  It typically takes about 90 minutes.
    • Punch the dough in the center to deflate it and transfer it on a flat surface to knead it a bit.
    • Cut it into six equal portions.
    • Form each portion into a ball and place each ball on a baking tray lined with baking paper.
    • Cover with a kitchen cloth and set aside until they increase in size (usually takes at least 30 minutes).

    Baking homemade ostfrallor:

    • Once the buns are almost ready, preheat your oven to 220°C (400 to 420°F).
    • Prepare the egg wash by mixing the egg with two tablespoons of water.
    • Brush each bun with the egg wash, then add the grated cheese on top (generously).
    • Place the baking tray in the middle of the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until they turned golden.
    • Set aside to cool.
    • Serve your cheese buns with your favorite marmalade, butter or with some cured meat for sandwiches!

    Notes

    • Cook’s Tip #1:  This dough is easy to handle and kneading with your hands is an excellent workaround if you don’t have a stand mixer.
    • Cook’s Tip #2:  Do not use all the flour immediately.  Start with the amount in cups, then slowly add the remaining flour in tablespoons if the dough is too wet.
    • Cook’s Tip #3:  There is nothing wrong with using pre-grated cheese — that’s what I always use when I prepare these Swedish cheese buns.
    • Cook’s Tip #4:  Do not hesitate to form them into smaller cheese buns if that’s what you prefer.  This recipe yields six ostfrallor that’s perfectly sized for serving with hamburgers as well.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 307kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 295mg | Potassium: 139mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 201IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 82mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @foodandjourneys or tag #foodandjourneys!

    More Bread from Around the World

    • A closer shot of Swedish breakfast rolls, highlighting the crunchy sunflower seeds, and the golden colour of the bread.
      Swedish Bread Rolls
    • A closer shot of a freshly baked Focaccia Genovese, highlighting its golden color.
      Focaccia Genovese
    • Freshly baked Swedish rye rolls cooling on a rack.
      Swedish Rye Rolls (Rågfrallor)
    • Slices of tomato olive focaccia, ready for serving.
      Tomato and Olive Focaccia

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Latest Pic, 2025 for food and journeys sidebar.

    Hej there!

    A smorgasbord of traditional and delicious international recipes awaits you, so feel free to look around and pick your favorites. No need to leave your kitchen to experience the real deal!

    More about me →

    Image for listing as-featured-on

    Feature of the Month: Filipino Cuisine

    Feature image for Filipino Recipes post, a serving of pancit bihon with a slice of lemon.

    Spring Favorites

    • Freshly-baked German leek pie, highlighting its golden color.
      German Leek Pie
    • Feature image for Roasted Fennel showing the dish straight out of the oven.
      Roasted Fennel (Creamy & Cheesy!)
    • Feature image for asparagus risotto, showing a serving of it, topped with grated parmigiano.
      Asparagus Risotto (Risotto agli Asparagi)
    • Feature image for German Leek Soup, highlighting the creaminess of the soup-
      German Leek Soup

    Popular Posts

    • Two servings of German Potato Soup (Kartoffelsuppe). Both creamy potato soup servings are garnished with spring onions.
      German Potato Soup (Kartoffelsuppe)
    • A closer shot of kanelbullar on a cooling rack, highlighting the filling of the buns.
      Swedish Cinnamon Buns (Kanelbullar)
    • An overhead shot of a skillet of Spanish Garlic Chicken, straight out of the oven.
      Spanish Garlic Chicken (Pollo Al Ajillo)
    • Arroz de Tomate in a pan, ready for transferring to serving plates, with fresh cherry tomatoes next to it.
      Portuguese Tomato Rice (Arroz de Tomate)
    • Latest feature image for drommekage, highlighting the texture of the cake.
      Danish Dream Cake (Drømmekage)
    • Three freshly-baked pasticciotti sprinkled with powdered sugar and served wiith espresso.
      Pasticciotto (Italian Cream Filled Pastry)
    • An image showing two bowls of Finnish Salmon Soup served with some bread.
      Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto)
    • An overhead shot of a bunch of freshly baked taralli, served with a shot of espresso, with scaterred fennel seeds on the background.
      Taralli (Italian Crackers)
    • Swedish Almond Tart
      Swedish Almond Tart
    • Latest feature image (Apr23) for Filipino picadillo showing the dish on a plate.
      Filipino Picadillo
    • Latest feature image for Salt and Pepper pork belly, showing the slices garnished with more chili.
      Salt and Pepper Pork Belly
    • A slice of cardamom sponge cake, served with a cup of coffee.
      Swedish Cardamom Cake

    Favorite Snacks

    • Fried panzerotti served with a glass of wine, for snack.
      Panzerotti (Panzarotti)
    • A collage of flammkuchen toppings to choose from.
      Classic Flammkuchen (+ More Flammkuchen Toppings!)
    • Freshly cooked panelle from Palermo, served with a dustingg of ground black pepper.
      Panelle (Sicilian Chickpea Fritters)
    • Chocolate balls served with coffee, for afternoon snack.
      Swedish Chocolate Balls (Chokladbollar)

    Sweet Treats

    • Traditional Swedish Cakes that you can easily make at home.
      Traditional Swedish Cakes: Make Them at Home!
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for fika post, showing some Swedish treats, and coffee and tea in the background.
      What is Fika? (Fika Meaning + Recipes)
    • Latest (Oct22) feature image for Easy Italian Desserts and Pastries post.
      Easy Italian Desserts & Pastries Recipes
    • Latest (Oct22) Feature image for Traditional German Desserts and Pastries.
      Traditional German Desserts and Pastries

    Popular Cuisines

    • Latest feature image for authentic Swedish recipes, showing västerbottenostpaj, a midsummer favorite.
      Authentic Swedish Recipes
    • Feature image for Italian recipes by region post.
      Italian Recipes by Region
    • Feature image for German Recipes post.
      Authentic German Recipes
    • Feature image for Portuguese Recipes, as part of recipes by country.
      Easy Portuguese Recipes
    • Feature image for Traditional Spanish Recipes, a pan of espinacas con garbanzos.
      Traditional Spanish Recipes
    • Feature image for Finnish Recipes post.
      Easy Finnish Recipes
    • Feature image for Greek Recipes post.
      Traditional Greek Recipes
    • Feature image for Lebanese Recipes post.
      Lebanese Recipes

    Footer

    Policy

    • Privacy Policy

    Contact

    • About Me

    Copyright

    • Notes on Copyright

    A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM.

    Copyright © 2025. FOOD AND JOURNEYS®

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required