12 Best Traditional Swedish Desserts To Complete Your Meal

If you have never been to Sweden before, you likely will not know any authentic Swedish desserts.

In reality, there are loads of delicious Swedish desserts for you to make. If you are interested in making some cuisine from this beautiful country, here are 15 traditional Swedish dessert recipes. 

12 Traditional Swedish Desserts

Quick Table: 12 Traditional Swedish Desserts

RecipeCalories (Per Serving)Total Preparation Time
Cinnamon Buns2522 Hrs 50 Min
Princess Cake2533 Hrs 15 Min
Saffron Buns31055 Min
Almond Caramel Cake2921 Hr 20 Min
Semlor39055 Min
Swedish Cheesecake2101 Hr 10 Min
Chocolate Coconut Cake2291 Hr 25 Min
Swedish Pancakes13030 Min
Spettekaka11045 Min
Swedish Crumple5101 Hr 10 Min
Oatmeal Cookies1401 Hr 15 Min
Ginger Cookies4161 Hr 16 Min

12 Best Traditional Swedish Desserts To Complete Your Meal

12 Traditional Swedish Desserts

There are many Swedish desserts that one should try once in a while. A popular dessert in Sweden is cinnamon buns. This sweet treat consists of a dough of yeast and milk, cinnamon, sugar, and butter. Apart from this, Semlor, Ginger Cookies, Spettekaka, etc are also popular in Traditional Swedish desserts recipe.

Ingredients

  • Cinnamon Buns
  • Princess Cake
  • Saffron Buns
  • Almond Caramel Cake
  • Semlor
  • Swedish Cheesecake
  • Chocolate Coconut Cake
  • Swedish Pancakes
  • Spettekaka
  • Swedish Crumple
  • Oatmeal Cookies
  • Ginger Cookies

1. Cinnamon Buns (Kanelbullar)

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First, if you are looking for an authentic Swedish sweet treat, we recommend these divine cinnamon buns.

Also known as Kanelbullar, these pastries are perfect for snacking on. They have been flavored with cinnamon, meaning that they will be a good option for people who enjoy the taste of this spice. 

These Swedish cinnamon buns have quite a distinctive look. They are sure to impress anyone who sees them. If you are having a hot drink, these buns will make for a scrumptious snack.

We chose this recipe because it not only gives detailed instructions for making these buns, but it provides plenty of useful information about them. 

Calories Per Serving: 252

Preparation Time: 2 Hrs 50 Min

2. Princess Cake (Prinsesstårta)

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If you are looking for a show-stopping dessert that will dazzle all of your guests, consider making a princess cake.

Traditionally, its outer layer has a unique green topping that is adorned with a pink rose, resulting in a beautiful look.

This layer covers a layer of marzipan. The cake itself is divided into layers of cream and jam. All of these ingredients result in a cake that tastes as delicious as it looks. 

Named after Swedish princesses, this cake has an interesting history. If you want to make this historical cake, this fun and effective recipe will guide you through the process. 

Calories Per Serving: 253

Preparation Time: 3 Hrs 15 Min

3. Saffron Buns (Lussebullar)

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If you love the sweet and floral taste of saffron, these Swedish buns will be ideal for you. These buns only contain a small amount of saffron, enabling it to infuse the buns with added flavor without overwhelming them.

These buns are incredibly soft in texture and may be decorated with a raisin or chocolate chip. They are commonly consumed over the festive season. 

If you are eager to make them, follow the recipe linked above. This straightforward recipe is given in two mediums.

You can either follow the written instructions or the video. This enables you to select the one that is easiest for you. 

Calories Per Serving: 310

Preparation Time: 55 Min

4. Almond Caramel Cake (Toscakaka)

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Do you love caramel? Do you love almonds? If you do, this will likely be a combination made in heaven.

Almond is quite a popular flavor in Swedish cooking, providing a nutty and earthy taste. This is well complemented by the sweetness of the caramel. 

One of the most distinctive elements of this cake is its texture. The soft and fluffy texture of the cake contrasts with the crunchiness of the almonds, which are decoratively spread across the top of the cake.

This amazing recipe adds a hint of cardamom to the cake mixture to further enhance its flavor. 

Calories Per Serving: 292

Preparation Time: 1 Hr 20 Min

5. Semlor

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Next, these elegant-looking rolls will be great for people who like to make cakes that have unique aesthetics. Usually, these buns are flavored with tasty cardamom.

The buns are then cut into and fitted with a lovely almond filling. These buns are then topped with whipped cream and can be decorated in icing sugar. 

These buns also play an important role in the culture of Sweden and other Nordic countries. They are traditionally consumed on Shrove Tuesday (or Shrove Monday).

However, you can of course make them all year round. This recipe will not only teach you how to make semlor (or semla for a singular bun), but it will also help you to better understand them. 

Calories Per Serving: 390

Preparation Time: 55 Min

6. Swedish Cheesecake (Ostkaka)

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If you are a lover of cheesecake, you may want to give this Swedish version of the dessert a try. Compared to the American version of the dessert, ostkaka is much lighter.

It is also less sweet and traditionally flavored with almonds. It remains delicious and should be considered if you are interested in learning the differences between American and Swedish cheesecake

To serve this cake, top it with some fresh strawberries and pour a little cream or ice cream over it.

Because of this, it is the perfect dessert to make over spring or summer. Give this informative recipe a go if this cheesecake appeals to you. 

Calories Per Serving: 210

Preparation Time: 1 Hr 10 Min

7. Chocolate Coconut Cake (Kärleksmums)

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Though coconut and chocolate is not the most popular pairing, it nonetheless makes a Swedish dessert that many people adore.

If you are a fan of this combination, Swedish chocolate coconut cake will probably be enjoyable to you. 

The cake is quite simple and will be loved by people with a sweet tooth. This chocolate cake is covered with chocolate icing and decorated with desiccated coconut.

This coconut not only contributes to the flavor of the cake but creates an understated yet elegant aesthetic.

The cake is cut into small squares, allowing you to make enough to feed 16 people. If you are looking for a cake to eat with your coffee, we recommend this recipe

Calories Per Serving: 229

Preparation Time: 1 Hr 25 Min

8. Swedish Pancakes

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In Sweden, sweet pancakes are much more popular than savory ones. These pancakes have a light and thin texture.

Typically, you would consume these Swedish desserts with jam, fresh fruit, and cream. 

If you are looking for a simple Swedish dessert, look no further. This recipe is hassle-free and will not be overly time-consuming.

They can be eaten at any time of the day, not just breakfasts. 

Calories Per Serving: 130

Preparation Time: 30 Min

RELATED: 8 Amazing Peanut Butter Brownie Recipes

9. Spettekaka

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This Swedish dessert is mainly found in Scania and Halland, two Swedish provinces. Its name translates to “cake on a spit.” Though this may not sound overly appealing, it refers to the fact that this is a spit cake. 

The cake is made from potato flour, meaning it is quite unique. It also looks quite aesthetically striking, meaning that it will be great for parties.

Spettekaka can be given vibrant colors, meaning that it will likely appeal to kids. 

Calories Per Serving: 110

Preparation Time: 45 Min

10. Swedish Crumple (Smulpaj)

If you are looking for a Swedish dessert to make over spring or summer, you may want to make a traditional crumble.

Lighter than American pies, this crumple has a delicious fruity taste. The crumble coating is light but rich in flavor. 

This recipe can be adapted to feature whatever berries you want. In fact, you can even use apples or rhubarb if these appeal to you.

This freedom empowers you to select the fruits that you think taste best or are most easily able to obtain.

The crumble will look and taste spectacular when it is served with ice cream or cream. 

Calories Per Serving: 510

Preparation Time: 1 Hr 10 Min

11. Oatmeal Cookies (Havreflarn)

If you have ever been to IKEA, you may have seen or even tasted these cookies. This wonderful recipe creates a deliciously oaty cookie that is not as sweet as other desserts.

Though this recipe does not do this, you can make havreflarns that have been dipped in chocolate. 

This recipe resists this urge in order to create a healthier version of these cookies. If you like an oaty taste to your cookies, please give them a shot. 

Calories Per Serving: 140

Preparation Time: 1 Hr 15 Min

12. Ginger Cookies (Pepparkakor)

Last but not least, these cookies will be delightful for those of you who love the taste of ginger. Because of their ginger flavoring, they are especially good for baking during the Christmas season.

They can be ornately decorated with royal icing to create some beautiful cookies. 

This recipe creates authentic Swedish cookies that are filled with flavors. This is achieved through the inclusion of multiple spices, such as cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves.

These spices work harmoniously with the ginger to create cookies that have deep and complex flavors. 

Calories Per Serving: 416

Preparation Time: 1 Hr 16 Min

RELATED: 26 Easy Orange Desserts

Closing Remarks

Though many Swedish dishes are not widely known across the world, there are plenty of desserts for you to try. They have different flavors, many of which may not be familiar to you.

Therefore, this will mean that you can find a dessert that appeals to you. A lot of these desserts not only look incredible but also taste divine. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Aside from these desserts, Sweden is perhaps best known for its meatballs. Their meatballs tend to be a little smaller than Italian meatballs.

Plus, they are flavored differently and served with different sauces. For instance, nutmeg and allspice will be used to infuse Swedish meatballs with flavor.

Swedish meatballs are also known as Köttbullar. 

Moreover, herring is a popular ingredient in Swedish cooking. Seafood, in general, is regularly consumed in Sweden. 

What Do People Have For Breakfast In Sweden?

A popular Swedish breakfast meal is an open sandwich. These open sandwiches are then filled with butter, meats, cheese, or vegetables, such as cucumber.

Cereals, yogurts, and fresh fruit are also widespread options. 

These breakfasts are often washed down with hot drinks, such as tea or coffee. Milk of various fruit juices may also be chosen as a breakfast drink. 

What Is A Swedish Pastry Called?

In Sweden, a pastry is called semla. From sweet rolls to buns, Sweden has a large variety of sweet pastries that are great favorites with the Swedes.

Jessica
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