Enskedeparkens Bageri

Rating: 4.5 out of /5

It's been 5 years since I last visited Enskedeparkens Bageri during semla season. Prior to that, I've been having their semlor quite regularly since they first opened back in 2014. They're sadly still using boxes with plastic windows, but the semlor itself is back up to and even beyond the level it was last time I tested their semla in 2021.

I visited on the last day of their semla season for 2026. A final batch semla!

It's an extra large final-batch semla. In fact, it now holds the record for the heaviest semla I've measured the weight of. The bun is broad, at 10cm wide but not that high. The total height was a box-top-touching 8.5cm with the bun-height itself being around 3.5cm. It's not just the queen of pastries, it's the heavy-weight king!

The soft whipped cream, curves and ripples upwards. The bun is so incredibly soft that it's a little bit of a challenge getting it out of the box. I use a stainless steel turner for getting under the semlor in order to slide them out, but my turner struggled to get underneath as the bun was just so soft! There's a rough cut lid, which is memory (combined with my photo collection) serves me right is a long standing feature of Parken's semla.

The bun is pale towards the bottom and a lovely golden brown at the top. It's been timed to perfection when baking.

If it wasn't already evident from me extracting it from the box, when eating it any vague lingering doubt was firmly thrown into the allotments next door. Oh my word the bun is soft! So very soft and fresh and made using a heritage flour - Öland wheat flour from Råberga based at Kullen Mill near Örebro.

One of my fingers that I use to hold up the bun and balance it from the underside as I'm eating is starting to slowly pierce through the bun as it collapses onto the point of my finger through a combination of its own weight and softness.

The paste is rich in roasted organic Valencia almonds. There's a lot of variation of chopped grades - from big chunks to finely ground.

Everything is soft and fresh. The paste is loose, not overly sweet, and ample. Even though it's an extra large semla, all the components are proportionally balanced.

It's excellent. It comes close to getting full marks - but I don't think it would have hurt with just a little bit stronger taste of cardamom (perhaps add a little to the paste?).

It was very large, but nevertheless balanced. Maybe it would be a win-win if they make the semla 20% smaller and 10% cheaper. Everyone (well, at least me) would still be super happy, perhaps even happier 😁, and almost certainly thinner by the end of the season. 😂