One of the most popular Norwegian baked goods that you probably didn’t realize was Norwegian is coffee cake. Not a lot of people really know how this delicious treat came to be, yet it stands as one of the most popular cakes to dive into.
It’s not really a surprise that it comes from the Land of the Midnight Sun, however, considering how much Norwegians love coffee. You’d be hard-pressed to find a local that doesn’t drink at least four cups of coffee a day, and it’s not just a popular misconception. Norway has the second-highest per capita consumption of coffee in the world. Eighty percent of the population drinks coffee every day.
So, what better recipe to follow than a coffee cake straight from a Norwegian bakery?
What Is A Coffee Cake?
The first thing you need to know is that coffee cake doesn’t actually have coffee in it. Although you could always put in some coffee if you so please, the real deal is only called ‘coffee cake’ because it is meant to be a companion to that hot caffeinated brew we all know and love.
These cakes became popularized with the introduction of coffee houses. While there have always been many Norwegian pastries that one can enjoy, communities back then were looking for the perfect bite to have along with their cup of Joe. So, its genesis comes from Europe, but it made its way to America and reached the level of popularity it has today.
Ingredients You Need
Cinnamon (for fillings and toppings)
Cream cheese (optional)
Fruit (up to your preference)
Flour
Butter
Sugar
Baking powder
Milk
How to Make It
Coffee cake is a single-layer cake, so it shouldn’t pose too much of a challenge to make. All you need to do is mix everything together and bake it.
For the main cake, you’ll want to put your flour, sugar, and baking powder into a large bowl. Mix them all together, then cut in your butter. Add your milk while mixing until it’s as moist as you like. After that, you can move on to the streusel topping.
The topping should be a crispier layer, but it just uses a lot of the same ingredients. Flour, sugar, and cinnamon should be mixed together in a separate bowl. Once you’ve completed this mixture, you just sprinkle it over the top of your main cake.
Once you’ve got your complete cake, you can pop it into your preheated oven for around half an hour. If you think it may take less time, use a toothpick and stick it into the center to check if it’s cooked through. You can add a dollop of cream cheese for that extra kick. The exact measurements will depend on how many servings you want to bake.
Closing
And there you have it! Just like that, you’ve got the perfect coffee cake to enjoy any time of the day. The best thing about it is that it packs all the right flavors without being too sweet. This means it is really best consumed with tea or, yes, coffee!
Are you craving some authentic coffee cake and other amazing desserts? Check out Ana’s Norwegian Bakeri! We’re an authentic Norwegian bakery specializing in cinnamon rolls, sunshine rolls, cakes, baked bread, and more right in the heart of Centennial, CO.