You think bright color bead necklaces and crazy carnival outfits are what Fat Tuesday is all about? Think again.

In Sweden there’s a different tradition, and it carries on all the way from January to March: semlor. A semla (plural: semlor) are wheat-flour bun filled with almond paste and topped with whipped cream and powdered sugar; the perfect combination for fending off the cold of winter. Traditionally eaten on Fat Tuesday, now you can find them in Swedish pastry shops and bakeries from the beginning of January onwards.

Or you can make your own. Here’s a great recipe to bring all the semla goodness right into your own home. I know what I’m doing tonight!

Want more semla stats and fun facts? Check out this great article on the Swedish baked good by my friend Lola Akinmade on Intelligent Traveler.

[Photo: Per Ola Wiberg]