Northern European Desserts

Various types of Danish cookies are all united under the name småkager. This broad group incorporates traditional and modern varieties which differ in ingredients, shape, and consistency. Today, they are usually prepared with wheat ... READ MORE

One 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 alw... READ MORE

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 v&ar... READ MORE

Semla is the famous Swedish cream bun. This traditional Swedish dessert is made with a plain wheat bread bun which is lightly flavored with cardamom, then cut in half. The inside is filled with a layer of delicious almond paste and a gene... READ MORE

Originally a creation of Roman-Catholic monks, and now popular internationally, kringle is a delicious flaky pastry, usually shaped as a pretzel and filled with various ingredients. It was primarily introduced in Denmark, under the influe... READ MORE

These light, small-sized Danish pancakes are prepared with a leavened egg batter that is poured and baked in specially designed hollowed pans. Even though they were initially prepared with apples – hence the name – today, they rarely a... READ MORE

Danish lagkage is a type of round layered cake that is usually served on special occasions. It consists of at least three layers of sponge intertwined with pastry creams, fresh fruit, or fruit preserves. The sponges can be made with various cake b... READ MORE

Danish risengrød is a luscious and sweet rice pudding, an ancient dessert considered a luxurious and rare treat that is reserved for Christmas. It consists of short-grained rice cooked in a mixture of milk and water, with the addit... READ MORE

This classic Swedish cake was originally named grön tårta (lit. green cake), due to its typical green-colored marzipan decoration. The recipe was first published in a 1948 edition of Prinsessornas Nya Kokbok, and it or... READ MORE

Vaniljekranse are one of the most famous Danish cookies. They consist of a simple buttery dough which is extruded into long strips and then formed into small circles. These traditional cookies are distinguished by a light taste of vanilla and the ... READ MORE

Munkki, translated as monks, are popular Finnish deep-fried doughnuts made with buttery, cardamom-flavored, leavened dough. They are usually shaped into round forms that are occasionally complemented with sweet and fruity fillings, or in ... READ MORE

Similar to a porridge or a pudding, mämmi is a traditional dish prepared with a combination of rye flour, rye malt, and water. After it has been soaked, it is typically seasoned with dark molasses syrup, and the mixture is then baked in the o... READ MORE

Knäck is a Swedish toffee prepared with caramelized sugar and butter or heavy cream. It is often additionally sweetened with syrups and may be enriched with various chopped nuts. The caramelized mixture is usually left to set in miniature pap... READ MORE

Ostkaka is a very old Swedish specialty that literally translates to cheesecake, although it should not be mistaken with the well-known American cheesecake. Traditionally, it is prepared with rennet that converts milk into cheese, which is then co... READ MORE

Although the name æblekage can be translated as apple cake, this traditional Danish dessert is a sweet treat that has more in common with a trifle or a crumble. It consists of a creamy, cinnamon-spiced app... READ MORE

Koldskål is a popular Danish buttermilk dessert that is also occasionally enjoyed as a creamy drink. Even though there are numerous regional varieties, most of them combine buttermilk with yogurt, sugar, lemon juice, vanilla essence, and egg... READ MORE

Drømmekage (lit. Dream cake) is a traditional cake originating from Hjallerup in Jutland. The cake is made with a combination of flour, sugar, butter, eggs, milk, baking powder, and vanilla. Once prepared, the smooth batter is placed in a b... READ MORE

Kammerjunker are popular Danish double-baked cookies. Made with wheat flour and butter, the dough is primarily rolled into a log and baked, then sliced and baked again until crispy. The cookies are usually small in size, typically flavored with ca... READ MORE

Jodekager are Danish cookies that are traditionally made for Christmas. Also known as Jewish cookies, they're made with butter, flour, sugar, and eggs, then brushed with eggwash and topped with a combination of chopped almonds, sugar, and cinnamon... READ MORE

Kransekake is a traditional Nordic dessert consisting of a number of concentric cake rings which are usually shaped into a large cone or a tower. The crispy cakes are made with almond flour, sugar, and egg whites, and are held together with a whit... READ MORE

Sju sorters kakor is a Swedish phrase that translates to seven kinds of cookies. It's a tradition deeply rooted in Swedish culture, particularly when it comes to coffee gatherings known as fika. The tradition goes back several ge... READ MORE

Krumkake are traditional Norwegian wafer cookies. The batter is made with a combination of eggs, sugar, vanilla, flour, baking powder, cardamom, and butter. Once prepared, the batter is cooked on a special griddle that imprints the wafers with a v... READ MORE

Traditionally prepared and enjoyed during Christmastime, the creamy risalamande is an uplifted, lighter version of the classic Danish rice pudding. While the already flavorful plain pudding is enjoyed on Christmas Eve, on the following da... READ MORE

Chokladbollar, or chocolate balls, are a classic Swedish no-bake treat made primarily from oats, sugar, cocoa powder, and butter. They are often rolled in coconut flakes, sprinkles, or pearl sugar for decoration. The dough is mixed and shaped into... READ MORE

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, f... READ MORE

Smulpaj, from the Swedish words smula, meaning crumb, and paj, meaning pie, is a delicious Swedish crumb pie. It consists of a crumbly mixture poured evenly over diced fruits and berries (typically blueberries a... READ MORE

Nyponsoppa is a simple dessert soup that employs rose hips as its star ingredient. The dish is best prepared with fresh rose hip fruits that are cooked and puréed along sugar and (optionally) spices such as cinnamon and cloves. It can be en... READ MORE

Pebernødder cookies are a staple in every Danish household during the Christmas season. They are usually light brown in color, small in size, crispy, and generously seasoned with a variety of spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginge... READ MORE

This dark-purple dessert soup is a Swedish staple that is traditionally prepared with a combination of fresh bilberries or (optionally) blueberries, cornstarch, sugar, and water. It can be served hot or cold, depending on the season, and is often ... READ MORE

Traditionally associated with Christmastime, these popular Norwegian doughnuts called smultring are prepared with a dense dough that is usually spiced with cardamom, cinnamon, lemon or orange zest, as well as various liqueurs. They are typically s... READ MORE

These Swedish cookies are covered in green marzipan while the inside is filled with a combination of crumbled cookies or cakes, cocoa, and punsch - Swedish liqueur that combines arrack, neutral alcohol, sugar, water, and wine—and wh... READ MORE

Brunsviger is a traditional cake originating from the island of Fyn (Funen) in Denmark. The cake is made with a combination of flour, butter, milk, sugar, and yeast, while the sugary topping consists of butter, brown sugar, and milk or heavy cream... READ MORE

Kagemand is a unique Danish sweet treat shaped to resemble a man or a woman. It is usually quite large in size, decorated with various sweets and tiny Danish flags. Traditional toppings include chocolate, marzipan, fruits, nuts, and candy. This co... READ MORE

Rote grütze (in Germany) or rødgrød (in Denmark) is a traditional dessert made mainly with redcurrants, which can be combined with other red summer berries such as raspberries, strawberries, blackcurrants, or blackberries. The f... READ MORE

Mansikkakakku is a traditional cake originating from Finland. The cake is usually made with a combination of strawberries, almonds, sugar, egg whites, salt, heavy cream, and vanilla. The egg whites are beaten with salt and sugar until stiff peaks ... READ MORE

Closely resembling Swedish semla, this sweet Finnish pastry is prepared with yeasted, cardamom-spiced dough that is shaped into buns and baked until golden. Each bun is cut in half and filled with strawberry or raspberry jam and whipped c... READ MORE

Kvæfjordkake is a traditional cake originating from Kvæfjord on the island of Hinnøya. It consists of layers of cake, meringue, vanilla cream, and chopped almonds. Rich, yet light, the cake is made with a combination of butter, ... READ MORE

Named after the acclaimed Finnish poet, the Runeberg cake is a small, cylinder-shaped delicacy prepared with a combination of wheat and almond flour. The cake is characterized by strong ginger and cardamom flavors, and a tender, dense texture. Thi... READ MORE

Frugtsalat is a slightly sweet and highly versatile Danish fruit salad. It consists of various fruits, nuts, chocolate, and marzipan, but it is easily adjusted to any taste and preference. The ingredients are commonly topped with whipped cream or ... READ MORE

Citronfromage is a creamy Danish lemon-based dessert. Although the name is derived from the French words for lemon and cheese, traditional and modern versions have never employed cheese, and citronfromage has more in common with ... READ MORE

Havrekjeks are traditional Norwegian oatcakes. The cookies are usually made with a combination of oats, flour, butter, milk, salt, sugar, and baker's ammonia. The butter is creamed with sugar, while the oats are mixed with flour, salt, and baker's... READ MORE

This traditional Scandinavian dish is prepared with a combination of cow’s milk and beestings or colostrum – a yellow, rich milk produced by the animal right after it gave birth to a calf. The mixture is baked in the oven and the produ... READ MORE