Kavring is a delicious Swedish rye bread that is dark in color and slightly sweet in flavor. This incredibly easy recipe contains NO yeast and is instead leavened with baking powder and baking soda. With a list of simple ingredients, this moist and dense Kavring loaf comes together in minutes.
What's more, Kavring makes a delicious base for open faced sandwiches and is particularly good with pickled herring and smoked salmon. You are going to love this easy Swedish rye bread recipe! Keep reading for step-by-step instructions for making it at home.

Why This Recipe Works
- This recipe calls for an easy list of wholesome, simple ingredients.
- The batter mixes together in about 5 minutes time.
- A unique low and slow baking method keeps the loaf tender and moist.
Ingredients

- Bread flour and rye flour for the base of this recipe. The bread flour brings structure and the rye imparts flavor and a tender texture.
- This bread is leavened with a combination of baking powder and baking soda.
- A bit of salt heightens the flavor of the baked loaf.
- Either Swedish dark baking syrup (also known as mörk sirap) or light molasses serve as the sweetener in this recipe. Both are delicious, but the Swedish baking syrup is a bit less prominent in flavor than molasses. Both provide a gloriously dark color to the bread.
- Milk is the liquid the moistens the recipe. Feel free to substitute your favorite non-dairy milk if you like!
The full recipe with specific proportions and detailed instructions can be find below.
Special Equipment Needed
- 1 standard sized loaf pan (9x5)
How to Make This Recipe
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F and grease and flour and standard sized loaf pan (9x5 inches). Set aside.

- Whisk the flours, salt, baking powder and baking soda together in a large bowl.
- Add the milk and dark baking syrup or molasses. Stir with a rubber spatula until just combined.


- Scrape the batter into the prepared baking pan. Transfer to the oven and bake for an hour. Increase the heat to 300 degrees F. Bake for an additional hour. Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool for about 30 minutes before tipping the loaf out onto a wire cooling rack. Cool completely before slicing and serving.


Expert Tips
- Don't over mix the batter once you add the milk and dark syrup/molasses. This will help the loaf stay deliciously tender.
- Cool completely before serving.

FAQs
Kavring is slightly sweet and rich in flavor. Depending on the particular recipe you are using, it might have a bit of spice to it such as fennel, caraway, anise and/or cardamom.
Try adding a teaspoon or two of ground cardamom to the dough or for a seeded spiced version consider adding a teaspoon of fennel, anise and/or caraway seeds.
Once the loaf has cooled completely, store it tightly wrapped at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Yes! Kavring freezes very well. Once the loaf has cooled completely, wrap it in plastic and then place it in a freezer bag or wrap it in a second layer of aluminum foil. It will keep in the freezer for at least 3 months.
In Sweden, Kavring is often enjoyed for breakfast or fika (the Swedish coffee break). It is delicious spread with butter and/or toppings such as fruit preserves, cheese, smoked salmon or pickled herring. Looking for more ideas for how to serve Kavring? Keep reading below!

How to Serve Kavring
- Spread generously with salted butter and enjoy. Sometimes simple is best!
- Add cheese to your buttered bread.
- Spread fruit preserves such as lingonberry or raspberry jam over your buttered bread.
- Add a few pieces of pickled herring and top with sour cream or crème fraîche and chopped red onion.
- Top with cream cheese and smoked salmon along with a few cucumber slices, red onion and fresh dill.
- Serve alongside Swedish meatballs.
- Top with hummus or pâté.
- Make smörgås, or Swedish open faced sandwiches (also known as smørrebrød in Denmark or smørbrød in Norway). Consider topping a slice of Kavring with hard boiled eggs, cucumbers, cold cuts, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickled mustard seeds....the sky is the limit! For more smörgås inspiration, check out this post here!
Related Recipes
Looking for more Swedish breads to bake at home? Give these delicious options a try:

Kavring (The Easiest Swedish Rye Bread)
Equipment
- 1 standard sized loaf pan (9x5)
Ingredients
- 2 cups bread flour
- 1 cup rye flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup Swedish dark baking syrup or light molasses
- 1 ½ cups milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F and grease and flour a standard sized loaf pan (9 x 5 inches). Set aside.
- Whisk the bread flour, rye flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt together in a large bowl. Add the dark syrup or molasses and milk and stir until just combined. Scrape the batter into the prepared baking pan and smooth out the top.
- Bake for one hour and then raise the oven temperature to 300 degrees F. Bake for another hour. Remove from the oven and cool slightly before tipping the loaf out of the pan. Cool completely before slicing and serving.
Notes
Nutrition
If you loved this recipe, give it a star review! Also, snap a picture of your Kavring and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #truenorthkitchen and tagging me @true_north_kitchen.
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