Meet the Winchester market trader selling incredible, handmade Swedish treats
Tell us about Stuga Bakery
Stuga Bakery is a small artisan Swedish bakery based in Winchester. I (Julia) run the business with my husband Daniel and we're part of Winchester Street Market every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. My family is Swedish; I moved to the UK from Sweden when I was 19. Stuga means cottage, and I chose the name because the red Swedish cottages are a core part of our culture. It takes me back to all my childhood summers. My grandfather built two cottages on an island in the Stockholm archipelago and it has always been my happy place.
What kinds of Swedish treats do you sell?
Lots of buns! Cinnamon buns, cardamom buns and new flavours like our current most popular: blueberry and custard buns. These are made with organic wild blueberries and homemade custard. Making cinnamon buns is definitely nostalgic for me. They are the bun everyone’s grandma would make.
We also make chocolate balls, just like the ones I'd have for birthday parties growing up. Kladdkaka, our goey chocolate cake, is really authentic. Any Swede who comes by knows exactly what it is. I also make mini princess cakes — a Swedish classic of sponge, jam, cream, and custard, finished with a layer of green marzipan. Then there’s BUBS: premium Swedish pick-and-mix sweets that are genuinely hard to find in the UK. They are one of the things I really miss from Sweden!
Do you have a favourite bake?
My go-to favourite has got to be the cardamom bun. After a long morning of baking, nothing beats a cardamom bun for breakfast at the market. We buy organic cardamom seeds and grind them ourselves, which makes a big difference to the flavour.
Have you always loved baking?
No! I started during Covid lockdowns. I wasn’t much of a baker before. It began as baking for friends and family, and now we work hard to fit our business around family life with three little boys. My parents were really surprised when I started baking, but they came over from Sweden recently and really loved the buns.
What should we look out for on the stall?
I’ve recently started selling Scandi-designed homewares, like tea towels, trays and aprons. For autumn I’m planning an apple and cinnamon bun and when Christmas approaches I’ll start baking saffron buns. Semla buns are also one of my favourites. They are typically eaten between Christmas and Easter. It’s a cardamom bun with almond paste and whipped cream. That’s a season to look forward to!
What’s the best thing about being part of Winchester Street Market?
The atmosphere in Winchester is something special, the mix between friendly locals and curious tourists. People from all walks of life love to stop for a chat with us market traders. Having lived in Winchester for four years, we really feel like we’re now part of the community in a new way.
Our regular customers mean the world. Every repeat customer, kind word and social media interaction is what gets us by on the tougher days of running the business. It’s nice to feel that connection with Sweden, too. I’ve met so many more Swedes since I’ve been on Winchester Street Market!
What's the best thing you've bought from Winchester Street Market?
We recently put together a lovely gift hamper for a friend with flowers from The Original Flower Stall, local cheese from The Cheese Stall, GeoNaturals' Georgian wine and local honey.
What are your favourite things to do in Winchester?
The scene for new parents is great in Winchester. We moved here when I was expecting our second son and we made some lovely friends through NCT coffee mornings and Rhymetime at The Arc.
We love how beautiful Winchester is with its historical buildings and surrounding nature. We have always enjoyed walks up St Catherine’s Hill and around Barton Meadows.
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