Best Scandinavian Foods
The cinnamon roll or kanelbulle is a famous Swedish pastry made with yeasted, butter-rich, sweetened, and cardamom-flavored dough and has a cinnamon, butter, and sugar filling. Traditionally, kanelbulle will also have pearl sugar on top, although some variants can have either cardamom sugar or slivered almonds instead.
Cinnamon rolls are typically associated with fika, a well-established Swedish coffee-and-cake form of socializing. Although the origin of these tasty swirls is still subject to considerable debate, the pastry has its own day in Sweden – October 4th, known as Cinnamon Roll Day.
MOST ICONIC Kanelbulle
View moreOne of the most popular Swedish desserts is a rich chocolate cake known as kladdkaka. This classic Swedish creation combines eggs, cocoa (or chocolate), butter, sugar, and flour into a dense and luscious dessert. During baking, the cake should always remain moist in the center, while the outer layer is transformed into a thin, crunchy coating.
Since the cake is incredibly dense, and typically heavy on the bitter chocolate or cocoa, it is usually dusted with a delicate layer of powdered sugar, and traditionally served with a dollop of ice cream or whipped cream on the side. It is one the most beloved Swedish desserts, typically enjoyed during fika, a traditional Swedish coffee break.
Sake nigiri sushi is a Japanese type of nigiri sushi, with origins in Norway. It consists of hand-pressed sushi rice that's topped with slices of salmon. The dish has a soft texture and a clean finish that makes it good for sushi newcomers, although the flavor can be a bit fishier than maguro (tuna) nigiri sushi.
Traditionally, this type of sushi is eaten by hand in a single bite. It's usually accompanied by soy sauce, wasabi, or pickled ginger (gari) on the side.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Sushi
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Jordgubbstårta is a traditional strawberry cake originating from Sweden. It usually consists of five parts: sponge cake (flour, sugar, eggs, cornstarch, vanilla); lemon syrup (lemon juice, water, sugar); pastry cream (eggs, sugar, vanilla, flour, butter, milk); mascarpone whipped cream (mascarpone cheese, crème fraiche, sugar, vanilla), and a garnish of fresh strawberries.
In order to assemble the cake, the sponge cake is brushed with lemon syrup, topped with pastry cream and quartered strawberries, and then with whipped cream. The process is repeated two more times, and the cake is then covered with mascarpone whipped cream and the remaining strawberries.
Köttbullar are famous Swedish meatballs with a crispy brown exterior, and light, airy and tender texture on the interior. The original recipe for the dish first appeared in Cajsa Warg's 1754 cookbook. The meatballs usually consist of beef mixed with pork or veal, and the combination is typically seasoned with onions, salt, pepper, and allspice.
The mixture is shaped into small, round meatballs and browned in hot butter. This dish is traditionally accompanied by lingonberry sauce, creamy mashed potatoes, and a thick gravy on the side, although lighter side dishes such as cucumber salad or red cabbage are also quite popular.
MOST ICONIC Köttbullar
View moreThe epitome of a cozy Sunday breakfast in Denmark is a crispy sweet treat known as Danish pastry. It is made with laminated dough, where the dough is repeatedly covered with butter and folded over itself. The result is a creation that is quite similar to puff pastry.
The dough is shaped into different forms and filled with flavorful, creamy fillings. Traditional fruit fillings such as apple and raspberry, vanilla custard, and almond paste are Danish favorites, but due to its popularity, the fillings are usually region-specific.
MOST ICONIC Wienerbrød
View moreToast Skagen is a classic and elegant Swedish open-faced sandwich that's typically served as an appetizer. It's made with white bread, shrimps, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, whitefish roe, dill, lemon, and butter. The crusts are removed from the bread, which is then sautéed in butter until goden brown.
The shrimps are chopped and mixed with mayonnaise, mustard, and dill. The mixture is then placed on the bread and the roe is placed on top of each sandwich. It's recommended to garnish each toast Skagen with a sprig of dill and serve it with a lemon slice on the side.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Smørrebrød
MOST ICONIC Toast Skagen
View moreMAIN INGREDIENTS
Västerbottenostpaj is a traditional cheese pie originating from Sweden. The pie crust is typically made with a combination of flour, butter, and cold water, while the filling consists of a mixture of eggs, milk, cream, Västerbotten cheese, salt, and white pepper.
The cheese is made from cow’s milk and has a firm, granular texture. Its flavor is sweet and savory, like a cross between Parmesan and Cheddar. The filling is poured into a baked pie crust, and the cheese pie is then baked in the oven until golden.
Våfflor are extremely popular Swedish waffles, consumed since the early 1600s, when they were shaped into squares. Today, the waffles are traditionally shaped into hearts and served with fruit jams, whipped cream, and ice cream. Because våfflor are made without yeast, they are much thinner than Belgian waffles, with a texture that is similar to pancakes.
There are two popular waffle varieties - egg waffles and crispy waffles, the egg variety being more filling than the other one. Waffles are consumed throughout the year in Sweden, but they are at the peak of their popularity on March 25th, which is known as Waffle Day.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Gaufre
MOST ICONIC Våfflor
View moreVästerbotten is a Swedish cheese made from cow's milk. The name refers to the Västerbotten region in northern Sweden. The paste is adorned with tiny eyes and has a firm, granular texture. In flavor, the cheese is salty and sweet, similar to a cross between Cheddar and Parmesan.
Every wheel must age for at least 14 months before it can be consumed. It is believed that the cheese was invented in 1872 by Ulrika Eleonora Lindström, a dairy maid who was left alone while stirring the curd, but she also had regular meetings with her lover, so the cheese was considered a failure at first, but when it was tasted, people thought it had a special flavor.
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 100 Scandinavian Foods” list until February 16, 2025, 7,811 ratings were recorded, of which 6,671 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.