Did you know that Denmark is home to some of the best sweet treats in the world? That’s right, the country known for its delicious Danish pastries is also home to a wealth of other delicious cakes and biscuits.
So, if you’re looking for a country to satisfy your sweet tooth, Denmark is the place to be. You’ll find everything from traditional cakes and cookies to more modern takes on classic desserts.
So, what are you waiting for? Start exploring Denmark’s sweet treats today!
Danish Pastries
Wienerbrød, or Danish pastries, are a type of pastry that originated in Vienna, Austria. However, they are called Danish pastries in Denmark because a Danish baker who visited Vienna in the 19th century was inspired by the pastries he saw there and brought the idea back to Denmark. Danish pastries are made of light, flaky dough and are typically filled with fruit, cream, or chocolate.
Some of the most famous Danish pastries include the snegl, a cinnamon roll-style pastry, the spandauer, which has a dab of custard cream in the middle, and the tebirkes, which is a pastry with remonce in the middle and poppy seeds all over the top. There are also seasonal pastries and a special pastry just for a Wednesday, the Onsdagsnegl, baked by the oldest bakery in Copenhagen, Skt Peders Bageri.
Danish Cakes
Get cozy with a cup of coffee and enjoy some delicious Danish pastries. Flødeboller, a soft meringue on a light wafer base covered in chocolate, is a must-try. They're like Tunnocks Teacakes, but even better.
The dream cake is a sponge cake topped with dark sugar and coconut. An Otello cake is a thin sponge cake topped with cake cream, marzipan, whipped cream, and dark chocolate icing. On the other hand, a Sara Bernhard is a macaroon topped with chocolate cream and coated with dark chocolate.
Danish Biscuits
Danish people generally don't eat biscuits as often as other sweets like cakes or pastries. The tins of butter biscuits you might take home as a souvenir are not something people here eat daily.
Instead, you're more likely to come across småkager, small crunchy brown sugar biscuits, hindbærsnitte, a buttery biscuit with raspberry filling and icing, and pebernodder, small round cinnamon, and cardamon cookie served around Christmas. On the other hand, the romkugle is a small, rum-flavored ball made from leftover cake. It is a popular treat in Denmark and is often served with coffee or tea.
Special Occasions for Yummy Danish Cakes!
Birthday
Kagemand and kagekone are Danish cakes that are traditionally eaten on one's birthday. A kagemand is a cake baked in the shape of a man, while a kagekone is a cake baked in the form of a woman. These cakes are often decorated with cream and berries.
Christmas
In Denmark, they celebrate Christmas with a wide variety of different cakes and cookies. Some more popular ones are butter cookies, cinnamon and cardamom cookies, brunkager, and vaniljekranse. However, one thing they don't eat is Christmas Cake. This is because raisins are not a typical ingredient in Danish cakes.
New Year’s Eve
As the New Year approaches, it is customary to eat kransekage. Kransekage is a tower of 18 or more ring-shaped layers made from almonds, eggs, and sugar. At midnight, when the clock strikes, kransekage is eaten along with a glass of champagne or other sparkling wine to usher in the New Year.
Conclusion
Danish sweets are a delicious and popular treat enjoyed by people all over the world. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and flavors and can be enjoyed either fresh or frozen. If you're looking for a tasty treat, be sure to check out some of the ones mentioned above!
Are you on the hunt for a Scandinavian bakery? Choose Ana’s Norwegian Bakeri. We are a bakery that specializes in Norwegian pastries and baked goods. We specialize in Norwegian-style cinnamon rolls, school rolls, raisin rolls, sweet cardamom rolls, sunshine rolls, and baked breads and cakes. Order today!