The winter Sun in Finland tends to be a bit moody and even stubborn with a mind of his own. He will at times shine down in beautiful splendor turning the landscape into winter wonderland, but for the most part it stays hidden behind the clouds. Until Spring arrives. Come March, and the Sun starts making an appearance nearly daily, suggesting that soon the white landscape may turn into first brown and then into a spring green.
Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun
Mr. Golden Sun
Please shine down on me.
Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun
Mr. Golden Sun
Hiding behind a tree.
These little children are asking you,
To please come out so we can play with you.
Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun
Mr. Golden Sun,
Please shine down on me.
This song and first or second grade music class came to mind today when Mr. Sun finally made an appearance. The last time it appeared was a week ago on Saturday, just peeking for a bit from behind the clouds. The time before that, I could not even recall. Even though I have had some sort of a flu bug and my voice sounds like a bassoon I bundled up well and went out just for a bit with my camera in hand. Today has been a beautiful day. As I write, the sun is descending in the horizon like a bright orange ball of fire throwing up a reflection up into the sky somewhat like the reflection that it makes over the surface of a lake. There are hues of pink and purple in the sky lining the clouds.
By no means, am I suggesting that you should become a mood-eater just because the sun does not shine, but with temperatures dipping today to a -9 C/15.8 F today the Cinnamon Roll Cake below seems like the perfect match with a cold winter day. This could be a celebratory cake since the sun did decide to come and play today. If you happen to have a case of the sniffles, it is even a more perfect match as you soak in the rays through the window.
Cinnamon Roll Cake
This recipe is from my good friend Jess and we have both tweaked the recipe making it not so sweet. Even now, it has plenty of sweetness. The filling and glaze below is half of the original amount, so for a sweeter version double the filling and glaze.
4.7 dl/ 2 c flour
2.4 dl/ 1 c raw sugar/granulated sugar
(I used half raw sugar and half granulated sugar)
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 dl/ 1 and 1/3 c sour cream or Greek yoghurt
150 g/ 5.3 oz softened butter
1 tsp vanilla extract or sugar
3 eggs
Mix the dry ingredients and wet ingredients in separate bowls and then combine. Pour into a lined 23×33 cm or 9×13 inch pan.
Cinnamon Swirl
85 g/3 oz softened butter
0.8 dl/ 1/3 c brown sugar
1/2 tbsp flour
2 tbsp cinnamon
Mix all the ingredients together. Place evenly dollops of the swirl filling on the batter. Use a knife to make swirls.
Bake in the oven at 190 C/375 F for about 18 minutes or until a test skewer comes out clean.
Allow the cake to cool for about 10 minutes. Make holes with a fork and add glaze.
Glaze
2.4 dl/ 1 c powdered sugar
2 tbsp milk
1 tbsp coffee
1/2 tsp vanilla extract or sugar
Drizzle and lightly spread over the cake.
So glad that Mr. Sun decided to come out today.
tableofcolors 
More things should be made with cinnamon-sugar! I love this cake and can’t wait to try it. Just perfect for a cold (dark) winter’s day!
Yes, I love cinnamon-sugar. I tried and true combination that I never tire of. Let me know how it works out for you if you have a chance to give it try.
So sorry to hear that you are sick…really rough when the weather is so inclement. I’m sure this wonderful cinnamon roll cake must have made you feel better immediately…it brightens my day just looking at it! I must make this for my husband next weekend. He adores cinnamon rolls and I would adore this version that is less sweet.
I’m on the mend now and feeling much better. I had not had a single cold or flu all fall and so I guess it was it’s time! Glad to have that checked off my list 😉 I’d love to hear how the cake works out for you if you get a chance.
I can imagine those grey days. We have a lot of those these days.
This recipe looks pretty good and perfect with coffee. I’ll save this for future reference. 🙂
I’m sure there are quite a few places that have their share of grey days! We have had sun for two days in row. It has been wonderful!
Looks so good, maybe one I would even try to make!! Always like the pictures, they add so much.
Thanks Gramma! I just made another one this afternoon for a ladies evening. I trimmed the edges and so the kids got little samples. <3Laila
I used to love that song as a little kid. I would play my Raffi cassette tape over and over again! Sorry to hear that you are feeling a little under the weather. Your cinnamon cake looks scrumptious. Looks like a cinnamon roll but without all the work of messing with yeast and everything!
I was singing the song to the kids today(my voice still sounds like a bassoon) and making up my own words and inserting their names in…they were just about falling over with the giggles! Maybe I should just act goofy more often! Yes, the recipe is quite easy and it also freezes quite well. And I’m feeling much better today!
It is hard for me to imagine such cold weather. Today the sun will shine too much- our temperature will reach 43c/109.4F.
Ooh, what warmth! We NEVER have such warm weather even in the summer! Is your heat a dry or moist heat?
It is dry heat with hot winds. Frightening, with the constant fear of bushfires. There was one nearby yesterday and I had to evacuate all the visiting teenagers who were swimming in my pool. Oh for a touch of your cold.
The first picture is awesome!
Thank you so much, I appreciate it.
Really hope you are feeling better, and with little or no sun to warm you it can be hard. I think that cake would certainly make me feel better, there is something so comforting about cinnamon and mixed with sugar and baked into a moist cake is super delicious.
I’m definitely feeling much better now, thank you! We had another sunny day today, so I’m feeling rather lucky. 🙂 I love the scent of cinnamon and sugar as it fills the house.
I hope you get better soon! Absolutely love the first photo in this post!
Thank you Matt! I’m feeling much better today!
I always like the Mr. Sun song. We have a very shy sun here too in Washington State and since I work in an elementary school I do get to hear the children singing this song often. Lovely. Love your cinnamon roll cake.
I can imagine that you have your fair share of rain in Washington and of the song as well. 😉 Thanks for stopping by.
The cake looks delicious, and the photos are beautiful. I can identify with your longing for the sun… grew up in Ohio in the USA where it can be grey for days and weeks on end in the winter. Lovely post.
Thank you so much! Can you believe it, we have had three consecutive days with sun! Maybe spring is one its way. 🙂
beautiful post, and yes that first image is really special! even though i am officially stuffed from on-the-road cuisine, that recipe sounds wonderful, and i could probably eat half of it in one sitting!
i’ll be sure to plot your location for the full moon flower drop on thursday! z
Thank you so much–as I came home this evening the moon was full or nearly so and it certainly brightened the white landscape since there were no clouds in sight. And yes, if the cake sits on the table it is quite enticing!
You’ve made pictures of cake mixture look very appealing – hard to do 🙂
Oh thank you Sally–love the compliment!
I just listened to Mr Sun on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9NE-9ub7qU Such a cute, chirpy song 🙂 Glad you had some sunshine and that cake looks mighty good.
..giggle…I woke up my kids with your link since they had such a hard time getting up and in no time there were up and dressed…worked like a charm!
Excellent. And I hope the sun came out to join in the song!
I wish you sun and warm weather!
Nice photos and recipe!
Thank you so much! Perhaps your wish came true…we have had three days of sun here! 🙂
I hope the little bit of sun and a piece of your cinnamon roll cake made you feel a little better. I think I would enjoy your recipe and like that you added a little coffee to the glaze.
Thank you so much for the well wishes. I’m feeling so much better now and ready for normal life instead of laying on the sofa. But I’m sure the few days of rest were quite needed.
I’m so happy to hear that you are better. I agree that the rest probably did you a lot of good as did your cinnamon roll cake. 🙂
I am definitely a mood-eater! And it’s a good thing I don’t have your cinnamon roll cake in my home because today is a dark and gloomy day. I would eat the whole thing! 🙂
Yes, I know it is so easy to just take a little nibble here and then a small piece and a little later a nibble again. But fortunately it can be frozen…out of sight, out of mind! 🙂
Happy winter TOC. And what a lovely recipe for a winter’s day. It looks like am easy variation on cinnamon rolls. Great idea.
And, of course, the usual gorgeous photos 🙂
Yes, it is definitely an easy version of cinnamon rolls without the mess and half the work. Thank you so much for your nice compliment.
Lovely photos and hope you feel better soon
Thank you so much! I feeling much better now 🙂
It has been non-stop rain here for weeks and weeks. Yesterday was the first sunny day I can remember.
Oh, I know how that feels! Hoping for some more sunny days to come your way!
Great photos!
Thank you!
Glad you saw the sun, Laila. Beautiful, glorious photos. And lovely to know the worst of the winter is over. Here comes the sun! Sophie x
It has been beautiful; we have had five consecutive days of sun! That is more than we had in the previous month 🙂 The months of late winter is a beautiful season with the bright blue skies and clean white landscape. Thanks for stopping by Sophie.
I can only imagine how beautiful Finland must be on those rare days when the sun does shine! I’ve never heard that song, but I must google it! Here in Colorado the sun is almost always shining, but the wind off the mountains and the icy temperatures are so cold that it’s hard to enjoy. I hope you’re finally on the mend and have your voice back! The cake sounds delicious. It would definitely cheer me up! -Rebecca
Though I’m now living in a country with four seasons but I will never get to experience what you have described in this post. Nothing beautiful except grey skies everyday. This is such a lovely cake. I can imagine tasting it while walking on the snow fields 🙂 warmly, danny
We’ve been enduring a scary heatwave, so I’m really happy for Mr Sun to cast his warmth on the Northern Hemisphere for a while! Hope you’re feeling better. Beautiful-looking cake.
Sounds like a cake for me!! Yum (: xx Nadja