14 Danish Desserts (+ Best Recipes) (2024)

These Danish desserts are easy-to-make and give you an authentic culinary experience!

From cookies to festive pastries and morning coffee cakes, these treats can’t be beat!

14 Danish Desserts (+ Best Recipes) (1)

WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?

Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox.

Given that the Danish pastry is one of the most well-known and beloved in the pastry world, it stands to reason that all Danish desserts are worth making!

And they definitely don’t disappoint.

One thing to keep in mind is that they don’t use sugar in the same proportions as we do.

Some of their desserts won’t be as sweet as you’re used to, but they’re delicious, all the same.

These 14 Danish desserts offer something for every occasion and craving, plus, the recipes are so simple. Enjoy!

1. Old-fashioned Danish Apple Cake

I know it’s called apple cake, but this recipe is actually more of a cold apple pie parfait.

You will need layers of cold apple filling made by boiling chopped apples with water, vanilla, and sugar.

The crumb is made with breadcrumbs for a crunchier texture. However, you could add some oats if you want something chewier.

The final element is Danish macaroons, which are not the coconut cookies we all know and love.

These cookies are light, almond cookies made in a similar way to French macarons.

Though you could substitute any good almond cookies, why not try making them yourself?

2. Lagkage (Danish Layer Cake)

One thing you’ll notice about our Scandinavian friends is that they love their cakes! But they don’t usually cover them with frosting.

Instead, they like pastry cream, a variety of jams, and whipped cream.

WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?

Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox.

This cake incorporates each of these, plus a wonderfully light yellow cake.

Keep it traditional with apricot and berry jams, or go a little crazy with something fun!

I think blueberry jam and lemon curd would make a fantastic alternative.

3. Kanelstang (Danish Cinnamon Twist)

There’s not a country on the planet (probably) that doesn’t have some kind of cinnamon pastry they’re proud of.

Just the smell of it as it bakes is enough to have me waiting in the kitchen.

I especially love this recipe because it calls for cardamom in the sweet dough.

It also has a layer of vanilla glaze in with the cinnamon that takes this classic to a whole other level.

4. Aebleskiver (Danish Pancake Balls)

Almost all European Christmas markets will have a stall dedicated to these little bites.

They’ll have a large flat top full of holes to pour the batter into, making hundreds a day.

All you need is one small Aebleskiver pan to re-create the experience at home.

Dust with powdered sugar and drizzle with Nutella for the ultimate Danish adventure.

5. Kransekage (Danish Almond Cake)

One of my favorite holiday recipes, this takes a little time but is so worth it in the end.

Made with just four ingredients, this almond tower is quite the show-stopper.

Since you’re already taking the time to make this tower, why not go all in and try to make some marzipan at home?

I love the classic white icing, which I finish with gold and silver sprinkles.

6. Risengrød (Danish Rice Pudding)

Usually reserved for the holidays, this creamy dish gets upgraded on Christmas Eve with extra vanilla, whipped cream, and almonds.

This recipe uses short-grain rice, which gets boiled with milk, water, and salt.

The sweetness comes from the cinnamon sugar that’s sprinkled over the top.

If you like your rice pudding on the sweeter side, feel free to add some sugar to the mix, or try using evaporated milk for a creamier finish.

7. Brunsviger (Danish Coffee Cake)

This cake is essentially a sweet focaccia covered in caramel.

Once you’ve made your brioche-like dough, it will need to rest before you put it into the baking dish.

Press the dough in like a pizza or focaccia dough and leave it to rise again.

Then you’ll press into the top to create dents and holes all over into which an amazing caramel sauce gets poured.

Everything bakes together, allowing the caramel to seep into the dough and bubble up on top.

8. Almond Shortbread Cookies

Buttery, crisp, crumbly, and full of almond flavor, you’ll make these irresistible little cookies a lot once you taste them!

The key to the texture is to cream the butter and sugar very well, for at least five minutes.

Add the dry ingredients in slowly and stop mixing as soon as it’s all incorporated.

I like to keep mine thick, to get that crisp edge with the softer middle.

But if you like your cookies crunchy, simply roll them a little thinner.

9. Brunkager (Danish Christmas Cookies)

Christmas is truly the season of cookies.

I’ve already made each of the cookies on this list, and I’m always looking for more!

What I love about European cookies is the spice.

They tend not to be overly sweet, which means I can eat more in one sitting.

Once you have your dough together, it’s as simple as rolling it into a log and slicing off the cookies to bake.

Store any extra dough (not that you’ll have any) in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready for more.

10. Brombærsnitter (Danish Blackberry Cakes)

These beautiful treats are buttery and full of tart blackberry jam.

The “cake” is actually enriched shortbread that gets made up and rolled into thin sheets.

Once baked, they get sandwiched together with blackberry jam and topped with a thick layer of sweet icing.

As they sit, the biscuit will soften slightly, making it just the right texture to cut into perfect slices.

The freeze-dried berries make for such a nice topping, though some chocolate stripes would be a gorgeous finish.

11. Traditional Glogg Recipe

It’s strange that any other month of the year, hot wine is such a crazy concept.

But with the cold, wet, dark weather upon us, there’s nothing like a mug of warm, spiced mulled wine to get you through.

I really would recommend following the recipe for this one, as everything brings a little something to the end result.

The cardamom is especially delicious and adds something special that you can’t get from cinnamon.

12. Chocolate Dipped Danish Butter Cookies

These cookies are so tender; they practically melt in your mouth.

What is more or less a shortbread base, this recipe is much softer than your standard dough.

In fact, it’s so soft; it has to be piped.

You’ll want to bake these just until they’re set. Keep an eye on them and don’t wait for them to turn golden.

Keeping them pale will ensure the most crumbly texture.

13. Rødgrød Med Fløde (Danish Red Berry Pudding)

As I mentioned before, the Danish love their sweet treats.

But in the same way they don’t add a ton of sweet frosting, they don’t add a lot of sugar either.

This recipe uses very tart red berries and potato starch to make an almost pie-like filling.

Once cooled, it gets topped with a simple whipped cream.

14. Danish Oatmeal Cookies

Another shortbread-like cookie, this recipe uses powdered sugar in the dough, along with oatmeal and pecans.

Once everything is combined, the dough gets dropped onto baking sheets and baked.

During the bake, these cookies will spread to make a wonderfully chewy, nutty cookie with a nice crisp edge.

14 Danish Desserts (+ Best Recipes) (2)

14 Best Danish Dessert Recipe Collection

These Danish desserts are easy-to-make and give you an authentic culinary experience! From cookies to festive pastries and morning coffee cakes, these Danish treats can’t be beat!

Instructions

  • Select your favorite recipe.
  • Organize all the required ingredients.
  • Prep a Danish treat in 30 minutes or less!
14 Danish Desserts (+ Best Recipes) (3)

Did you like the recipe?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 5 / 5. Vote count: 4

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Thanks!

Share on social media:

We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!

Let us improve this post!

Tell us how we can improve this post?

Related posts

20 Traditional Danish Recipes10 Traditional Danish Christmas Cookies25 Best Fall Desserts (+ Easy Recipes)24 Best Blueberry Desserts (+ Easy Recipes)Top 20 Graham Cracker Desserts (+ Easy Recipes)30 Best Cookie Butter Recipes and Desserts

14 Danish Desserts (+ Best Recipes) (2024)

FAQs

What is the most popular Danish dessert? ›

The Brunsviger

The most mouth-watering of all Danish delicacies, the brunsviger is a cake of crater-filled dough, drizzled by a thick layer of brown sugar and butter. This delicious concoction of sugar and fat soaks into the spongey cake, making for a delicious, moreish and sticky teatime snack.

What is the Danish dessert tongue twister? ›

Rødgrød med Fløde Is the Tongue-Twisting Dessert That Symbolizes the Evolution of Danish Cuisine. After dinner last December in Copenhagen, Denmark, our server suggested my girlfriend and I try the Danish hallmark dish "rødgrød med fløde" for dessert.

What is the most famous Danish pastry? ›

Traditional Danish pastries

In Denmark, these world-famous sticky delights are called Vienna Bread (wienerbrød), as they were first made in Denmark in the 1840s by Austrian bakers.

Which traditional dessert would be served in Denmark for a festivity? ›

Did you know. The traditional Christmas dessert in Denmark is risalamande (rice pudding) with hot cherry sauce. A peeled almond is hidden somewhere in the serving bowl, and the lucky person who finds the almond in his or her portion gets a small mandelgave (almond gift).

What is the king of Denmark sweets? ›

Kongen af Danmark (Danish for "King of Denmark") is a type of hard candy with an aniseed flavour. The candy was previously eaten as a cure for cough and for general "chest pains". Kongen af Danmark candy. The candy is marketed in Sweden by Karamellpojkarna as "Kungen av Danmark".

What is the most traditional Danish dish? ›

The "national dish of Denmark" is stegt flæsk - pieces of pork, fried until crisp, and then served with boiled potatoes and parsley sauce. Ironically, the tasty frosted pastries known to much of the world as "Danish" are not Danish at all.

What is the hardest thing to say in Danish? ›

Rødovre & Hvidovre. Of the many many MANY difficult Danish words to pronounce that were mentioned, Rødovre get's the first prize as being the most mentioned and Hvidovre as the runner up. One suggested that pronouncing Rødovre as 'Rollover' did the trick sometimes!

What does grod mean in Danish? ›

GRØD means porridge in Danish and that can be everything from sweet oat porridge to savory risottos.

What are Danish pastries called? ›

Typical Danish pastries include a snegl, a cinnamon roll-style pastry, a spandauer, a pastry with a dab of custard cream in the middle (you probably know this as a 'Danish pastry'), and a tebirkes, a pastry with remonce in the middle and poppy seeds all over the top.

What is the famous cake in Denmark? ›

Brunsviger is a traditional cake originating from the island of Fyn (Funen) in Denmark. The cake is made with a combination of flour, butter, milk, sugar, and yeast, while the sugary topping consists of butter, brown sugar, and milk or heavy cream.

What are popular Danish sweets? ›

Haribo is one of the most commonly purchased candy brands in Denmark. Together with Haribo, Toms and Anthon Berg these are some of the bestselling brands in the Danish supermarkets. Chocolate is the clear favorite when you ask the Danes, which types they prefer the most - followed by licorice, wine gum and caramel.

What is the number one dessert? ›

1. Pie. Pie earns a spot on the top of everyone's list of popular desserts merely for its delicious versatility. From fruit pies to cream pies, from seasonal favorites like pumpkin to year-round standards like apple, what's not to love?

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Geoffrey Lueilwitz

Last Updated:

Views: 5890

Rating: 5 / 5 (60 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Geoffrey Lueilwitz

Birthday: 1997-03-23

Address: 74183 Thomas Course, Port Micheal, OK 55446-1529

Phone: +13408645881558

Job: Global Representative

Hobby: Sailing, Vehicle restoration, Rowing, Ghost hunting, Scrapbooking, Rugby, Board sports

Introduction: My name is Geoffrey Lueilwitz, I am a zealous, encouraging, sparkling, enchanting, graceful, faithful, nice person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.