Most people don’t think about Sweden when they think of European desserts, but it’s really such a shame because there are so many delicious options that everyone needs to know about. If you’re planning to be in Sweden anytime soon, take notes. These are some of the most exciting desserts to try out while you’re there.
Semlor Buns
These buns look a bit like doughnuts, although they are baked and not fried. The soft buns are filled with a marzipan paste and whipped cream. The buns include cardamom in the dough, giving them a delicate aroma and subtle taste that make them delicious. One bite perfectly blends together the cardamom dough, almond, and whipped cream.
Sticky Chocolate Cake – Kalddkaka
This chocolate cake isn’t your childhood birthday cake. Instead, it is decadently moist and rich on the outside while being deliciously crisp and crunchy on the outside. It is quite dense and is usually finished off with just a dusting of powdered sugar and a bit of whipped cream. If you really want to go all out, of course you can pair it with ice cream as well.
Christmas Toffee – Knack
Knack is simple: it’s toffee made out of caramelized sugar and butter. However, just because it’s simple, it doesn’t make it any less amazing to enjoy. It is sweet, crunchy, and can sometimes include nuts as well. It is the perfect Christmas treat, but can be enjoyed all year round. The word “knack” is Swedish for crack or break, as the toffee cracks and breaks as you eat it.
Apple Cake – Appelkaka
This Swedish take on apple cake is wonderful. The cake is super soft, moist, and tender, which is contrasted with the delicious crisp apples and sweet vanilla sauce. Any lover of apples and cake will absolutely go crazy for this one.
Cinnamon Buns – Kanelbulle
While you might already be familiar with cinnamon buns, but these originated in Sweden. These incredibly soft buns are flavored with cinnamon sugar. There’s another popular variation of these buns called kardemummabullar, which are scented with cardamom instead of cinnamon and are equally as delicious.
Princess Cake – Prinsesstarta
Swedish Princess Cake is a popular birthday cake option that is made up of a sponge cake with fruit filling, cream, and a marzipan topping that is often colored to be pastel green, which explains its previous name gron torta, or green cake. Either way, you’re sure to enjoy this delicious cake no matter what you want to call it.