Today’s Post
What do Scandinavians love to eat at Christmastime? That’s the topic of today’s post. As we get deeper into December, I thought this would be a fun topic to tackle, so I’m going to share with you 3 different baked goods from each of the 3 Scandinavian countries! Mainly, they are cookies, sweets (confectionary), and bread, probably because that’s just what Scandinavians love to eat. But there are, of course, a million other options, and you should definitely take a look at the rest of our website for some of our other Christmas recipes. And a fair warning – we don’t have our own recipes for everything listed below, but wherever we don’t have a recipe of our own, we’ve linked a different one that you can use!
1. Denmark
Cookie: Vaniljekranse
I couldn’t choose a Danish Christmas cookie recipe without going for an absolute classic: vaniljekranse. It’s a safe bet that you’ll like these buttery wreath-shaped cookies, as they have a super tender crumb and just melt in your mouth. They do require some slight pipe-work to get the ridges on them, but that’s easy work when you end up with such a delicious cookie at the end. Check out our recipe below!
Confectionary: Snebolde
Now, these are so fun and cute, plus they’re yummy, and they don’t actually require any baking. In Denmark, you can usually buy these at the store, but if you’re looking for a fun little project on a Sunday afternoon or even during the Christmas holidays when you have some extra time, it’s such a fun candy to make at home! These snowballs are made with marzipan, which is coated in a hard shell of chocolate, then a layer of icing and some powdered sugar for a snowy effect. Our recipe is linked below.
Bread: Kløbenboller
This is a very rustic type of sweet bread roll that stems from Germany, but it’s also very popular in Denmark. These rolls are made in a unique way, as you have to chop up the dough and then put the pieces together into buns, which gives them the rustic pull-apart look and texture. They’re full of dried fruits, orange zest, and spices, so they really give off a festive vibe – recipe is below!
2. Sweden
Cookie: Hallongrottor
Also known as jam thumbprints in the US, these Swedish “raspberry cave” cookies are the best. They are simple to make from simple ingredients, yet they turn out so tasty! You can also add whatever jam you like, which makes them customizable to your preferences. Honestly, we think they’re such a hit at Christmastime simply because everyone loves them. There’s a reason why this is one of our most popular recipes of all time!
Confectionary: Polkagriskola
Nothing screams Christmas more than peppermint, and these peppermint caramels are a classic in Sweden at Christmastime. The name comes from the Swedish words “polkagris,” referring to a type of peppermint stick candy invented in Sweden, and “kola,” which is a type of caramel/toffee sweet like this one. The best part about these is that one batch goes a long way, since it’s very rich, so it’s perfect to share with friends or family this holiday season!
Bread: Lussekatter
If you ask a Swede which baked good they most associate with Christmas, many will say lussekatter. This is because these saffron buns are eaten often throughout December and are specifically associated with Luciadag (St. Lucy’s Day), which falls on December 13th. These buns are soft and fluffy, with a bright yellow color and mild flavor from the addition of saffron. They are called “cats” because when made like this, they look like little curled-up cats. How sweet – and yummy!
3. Norway
Cookie: Fattigmann
While the origin of this cookie’s name in Norwegian is unclear, it’s a cookie that has found its place in many cultures around the world, including both Sweden and Denmark. In Denmark, it’s known as “klejner” stemming from the German “kleinet” meaning small, while for some reason the Norwegians have called it “poor man.” Regardless of the name, it is a fried cookie with the most amazing cardamom flavor and fantastic crunchy texture. We love these – find our recipe for the Danish klejner linked below!
Confectionary: Risboller
If you’re looking for an easier sweet treat to make over the holidays, maybe with kids or a group of friends, then these chocolate rice treats are perfect. They’re almost like a rice krispie treat but instead of marshmallow, they’re made with chocolate. And the chocolate coating is similar to that in kiksekage, a delicious Danish chocolate dessert. While it’s traditionally made with eggs, we’ve linked a recipe that is egg-free here:
Bread: Julekake
If you can’t tell by now, orange is a classic Christmas flavor in Scandinavia, where we have something called “sukat” or candied orange peel. This is the same as Italian mixed peel in the UK and I’m sure it can be found in many other countries as well. It goes in lots of bread and cakes at Christmastime, including this one! Julekake is a Norwegian bread that is very soft and fluffy with cardamom, sukat, and raisins for all the festive flavor you could want. Find a recipe here:
Thanks for reading!
We hope you’ve enjoyed today’s post and found some inspiration for the holiday treats you’re going to make this year! I know after writing this I want to make everything on the list, though I may have to settle for just a couple of them. There’s never enough time to bake and eat everything we want at Christmas, is there? Anyway, thanks for reading this far. What’s your favorite Scandinavian Christmas treat? Let us know in the comments below!
