14 Best Danish Desserts Recipes To Soothe Your Sweet Craving

Danish desserts are some of the most delicious desserts that are out there. With Danish desserts, there is a wide variety of flavors and textures.

They are versatile in terms of when you can eat them, whether it be a special occasion or with a coffee in the morning. 

What we love about Danish desserts is how different they are from some of the desserts we make on a regular basis. Yet at the same time, some of the desserts are familiar to us. 

14 Danish Desserts (+ Best Recipes)

If you are looking for a way to broaden your baking experience, then you need to try to make these 14 Danish desserts. We’ve selected some of the tastiest and most popular Danish desserts so you can try these delicacies at home.

We have also linked the best recipes to follow for these desserts. Just because we want to make sure you know everything you need to know before making these amazing desserts, we have answered some of your questions relating to Danish desserts. 

Quick Table: 14 Best Danish Desserts Recipes

RecipeCalories (Per Serving)Total Preparation Time
Æbleskiver881 Hr
Kransekage3701 Hr 50 Min
Wienerbrød3742 Hrs
Drømmekage4861 Hr 5 Min
Lagkage1061 Hr 45 Min
Jødekager14822 Hrs 15 Min
Risengrød11145 Min
Koldskål 7015 Min
Hindbærsnitter201 Hr 12 Min
Kanelsnegle4362 Hr 12 Min
Fastelavnsboller21432 Min
Pebernødder80710 Min
Æblekage155035 Min
Vaniljekranse14761 Hr

14 Best Danish Desserts Recipes To Soothe Your Sweet Craving

14 Danish Desserts (+ Best Recipes)

There are a variety of Danish desserts that you can try. The most popular danish dessert recipes include Kransekage, Drømmekage, Lagkage, etc. You can also try apple strudel, a popular pastry in Denmark.

Ingredients

  • Æbleskiver
  • Kransekage
  • Wienerbrød
  • Drømmekage
  • Lagkage
  • Jødekager
  • Risengrød
  • Koldskål
  • Hindbærsnitter
  • Kanelsnegle
  • Fastelavnsboller
  • Pebernødder
  • Æblekage
  • Vaniljekranse

1. Æbleskiver

Aebleskiver is also known as Danish pancake balls but the name of this dessert actually translates to apple slices. Although in most recipes, there is not one trace of apples in this dessert.

They were traditionally made with apple pieces or an apple sauce filling which is why they have this name. These pancake balls are traditionally served at Christmas.

The texture of these pancake balls on the inside is light and fluffy but they are solid on the outside. They are traditionally made with a leavened egg batter and poured into hollow pans that are designed for this dessert specifically.

You can add vanilla, lemon zest, or cardamom to spice this dessert up. 

Calories Per Serving: 88

Preparation Time: 1 Hr

2. Kransekage

Kransekage, which is also known as marzipan wreath cake, is a bunch of different sized cake rings that are stacked on top of each other.

The cakes are usually stacked on top of each other to look like a tower or cone. It is one of the most unique Danish desserts.

This cake is most popular to eat on holidays, especially on New Year’s Eve in Denmark. You might even see a wine bottle in the center of this dessert!

The main ingredients of this cake are ground almonds or marzipan, sugar, egg whites, and powdered sugar for the icing glaze which keeps the cakes together. 

Calories Per Serving: 370

Preparation Time: 1 Hr 50 Min

3. Wienerbrød

Wienerbrod is a famous Danish pastry. Sometimes it is referred to as only Danish. This pastry is made with yeast-leavened dough that has had layers of butter folded into it.

This creates the multiple flaky layers that are so famous. There is a lot of preparation involved when making this dessert but it is all completely worth it.

This pastry is buttery and flaky and has a variety of wonderful toppings. Some of the most popular toppings are custard, chocolate, nuts, jams, and marzipan. 

Calories Per Serving: 374

Preparation Time: 2 Hrs

4. Drømmekage

Drommekage is also known as Dream Cake, which should give you a bit of an indicator as to how good this cake is. It is a light and airy sponge cake that has a caramelized coconut topping on it.

The main ingredients of this cake are flour, sugar, butter, eggs, milk, baking powder, vanilla, brown sugar, and coconut. 

It is a dessert that is popular around Christmas time but can be eaten all year round. You need to try this recipe if you like the taste of sweet coconut and cake together

Calories Per Serving: 486

Preparation Time: 1 Hr 5 Min

5. Lagkage

Lagkage, or what some would call Danish birthday layer cake, is a round cake that has two or three layers to it.

The cake usually has three layers of sponge that is smothered with pastry cream and then some sort of fruit preserve. There is also fresh fruit on each layer of this cake. The sponge of this cake is usually a thin vanilla sponge. 

It is served on many types of special occasions, like birthdays. It is a very important part of tradition for many families in Denmark. 

Calories Per Serving: 106

Preparation Time: 1 Hr 45 Min

6. Jødekager

We couldn’t have this list without the popular Jodekager. Jodekager is also known as Danish Christmas cookies. You might have also heard them being called Jewish cookies.

The main ingredients of these cookies are butter, sugar, almonds, eggs, flour, and cinnamon. They are washed with egg whites and then the almonds, cinnamon, and sugar are sprinkled on top of them. 

Calories Per Serving: 1482

Preparation Time: 2 Hrs 15 Min

7. Risengrød

Risengrod is the Danish version of rice pudding. It is another popular dessert that appears during the Christmas season. If you can’t tell by now, a lot of Danish baking happens during the Christmas period.

Risengrod is made from short-grained rice that is cooked in a mixture containing milk, water, vanilla essence, and salt. It is cooked until the mixture is thick and creamy.

When it is ready it is topped with cinnamon sugar which makes it deliciously sweet. 

Calories Per Serving: 111

Preparation Time: 45 Min

8. Koldskål 

Kodskal might seem a little strange to some but it is a fantastically sweet dessert to have during the summer. It is sometimes called Danish buttermilk soup and can be enjoyed as a drink as well.

The main ingredients of most recipes are buttermilk, yogurt, vanilla essence, eggs, sugar, and lemon juice. When the dessert is ready to serve, it is often topped with strawberries and crispy biscuit pieces

Calories Per Serving: 70

Preparation Time: 15 Min

9. Hindbærsnitter

Hindbaersnitter is a raspberry slice. It is a shortcrust pastry that is filled with raspberry jam. Two of the shortcrust pastries are sandwiched together with raspberry jam as the filling.

The raspberry slice is topped with icing and sprinkles. There are multiple flavors of this dessert but it is primarily fruity and sweet with a slight tartness to the dessert. 

Calories Per Serving: 20

Preparation Time: 1 Hr 12 Min

10. Kanelsnegle

Kanelsnegle is the Danish version of a cinnamon roll. In some versions of this dessert, there are added ingredients such as raisins in the cinnamon roll.

The Danish version has an intense cinnamon flavor but it is also sweet and flaky. 

Calories Per Serving: 436

Preparation Time: 2 Hr 12 Min

11. Fastelavnsboller

Fastelavnsboller is a popular dessert that appears in many bakeries during the Easter period, especially on Shrove Monday. They are the Danish version of Lent buns.

It is essentially puff pastry that is filled with some type of whipped cream or cream. Some versions have the top of the pastry cut open and others have icing on top of the pastry. 

Calories Per Serving: 214

Preparation Time: 32 Min

12. Pebernødder

Pebernodder is another Danish Christmas delicacy. They are small cookies that are flavored with nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, anise, and mace.

All the best Christmas spices. These cookies are perfect for enjoying with a warm cup of coffee. 

Calories Per Serving: 807

Preparation Time: 10 Min

13. Æblekage

Aeblekage is also known as the Danish apple trifle. It is layers of applesauce, topped with crumbled cookies or breadcrumbs and then whipped cream.

It is sweet, tart, and crunchy. This dessert is usually served in a tall glass. 

Calories Per Serving: 1550

Preparation Time: 35 Min

14. Vaniljekranse

The last dessert on this list is the famous Vaniljekranse, a Danish cookie. This cookie is in the shape of a circle with a small hole in the middle. It is a buttery and soft cookie that is popular all over the world.

This is another cookie that is really popular in December. 

Calories Per Serving: 1476

Preparation Time: 1 Hr

Final Thoughts

That brings us to the end of this list looking at 14 Danish desserts along with the best recipes to make them. Danish desserts are but one of the many incredible dishes in Danish cuisine. 

These desserts are famous all over the world so you should definitely start to bake them! What we love about these desserts is there is one for every occasion.

Also, there is such a wide range of flavors present in all these desserts you are sure to find at least one you love. 

Hopefully, we have selected Danish desserts that you are incredibly excited to make. We know that we love these desserts and we are sure you will enjoy them too. Have fun baking these tantalizing Danish desserts. 

And just like that, the Danish pastry technique was born. Also, this technique was introduced to Denmark by Austrian bakers. 

So aside from the amazing technique and how delicious Danish pastries are, the history of Danish pastries is also special. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Special About Danish Pastry?

Aside from the fact that it tastes absolutely amazing? There are so many special elements of Danish pastry, ranging from the taste to the ingredients they use.

After all, it is one of the things Denmark is famous for. 

The most special element of Danish pastry is the technique. Whilst many recipes have the butter mixed with the flour first, Danish pastry has the butter folded into the dough.

The butter is folded over and over again into the dough which creates layers. These layers are what makes Danish pastry so flaky and delicious.

The secret to making Danish pastry so special is having the ingredients chilled, so you can make as many folds as you can. 

A little surprising fact is that it was a French baker that discovered this technique by accident. The French baker forgot to put the butter in the mixture so tried to fold it into the dough instead.

What Makes Danish Pastries Danish?

A lot of time people get confused about Danish pastry. They want to know what makes it different from a croissant or puff pastry. 

People often consider Danish pastry to be the same as a croissant or puff pastry but it is actually a variant of puff pastry.

There are some subtle differences between the two such as the ingredients and cooking methods. 

The first difference between a Danish pastry and puff pastry is the fact that most Danish pastries are leavened with yeast but for puff pastry what makes it rise is steam. 

In terms of taste, Danish pastry is sweet whereas standard puff pastry is savory. 

When it comes to croissants, pain au chocolat, or pain aux raisins the main difference between them and Danish pastry is the ingredients.

There are added ingredients in croissants and pain au chocolates, which is why it is considered to be an elevated version of a Danish. The technique of all these pastries is quite similar.

The most distinct difference will be in the taste of these pastries. 

If you’ve enjoyed making Danish desserts and want to make more Danish dishes, then you’ll need a few of these spices stocked up in your kitchen pantry. 

Cardamon is a very popular spice that is in a lot of Danish dishes. It is often used in Danish bread and rolls, like the Danish version of cinnamon rolls. 

Peppercorn or pepper appears in a lot of Danish dishes. There is white pepper in Danish cookies. It is a staple in Danish food. For a savory dish, parsley is important to have. It goes well with fish and meat. 

Danish baked goods wouldn’t be complete without poppyseeds. So you need to stock up on these if you are planning to make any. 

A lot of Danish fish recipes require dill, so we would recommend keeping this in your top five spices to have for Danish food. The last spice is carraway. This spice is present in all sorts of foods ranging from cheese to spirits. 

Jessica
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