Strawberry cake and the taste of Swedish summer

 

If you want to know what Swedish summer tastes like, look no further than Swedish strawberry cake. For many Swedes, this cake is essential to midsummer and birthday celebrations.

Every year, in the days leading up to midsummer, the cost of strawberries tends to skyrocket in Sweden. This is because Swedes have to eat strawberries and, more specifically, strawberry cake on midsummer’s eve – no matter what the cost.

An authentic Swedish strawberry cake is as simple as it is spectacular. It is essentially a regular sponge cake filled with vanilla cream on the first layer, strawberry jam on the second and then smothered in whipped cream and strawberries. Once finished, the strawberry cake is a sight to behold in all its red and white glory – colorful, decadent, and absolutely mouth-wateringly delicious. 

Midsummer Celebration
Midsummers is one of Sweden’s most beloved holidays and ever since pagan times Swedes have celebrated the longest day of the year, around the time of the summer solstice. Since the 1950s we have, for practical reasons, celebrated Midsummer on Midsummer Eve, which is always on a Friday between June 19 and June 25. Photo: Lena Granefelt/imagebank.sweden.se


Strawberry cake for midsummer and birthdays

Although strawberry cake is most commonly associated with midsummer, it is also a popular cake to serve on birthdays, especially at children’s birthday parties. However, adults may have other preferences, some of which are as follows:

Swedish princess cake

When it comes to birthday traditions, the Swedes are divided. While some prefer strawberry cake, others will say the only way to celebrate a birthday is with princess cake. Princess cake is essentially a layered sponge cake filled with custard, cream and raspberry jam but what makes it truly remarkable is that it is draped with a bright green layer of marzipan. A feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds!

Swedish fika table at Grythyttan Inn
“Fika” - The Swedish coffee hour, or fika break, is a combination of coffee and chatting. It has made Sweden into one of the world’s premier coffee-drinking nation. In many workplaces there is a special coffee room, and all are expected to attend the common coffee breaks, one or two times each day. Photo: Jakob Fridholm/imagebank.sweden.se


Chocolate mud cake (kladdkaka)

Literally translated as sticky cake, or even messy or smudgy cake, kladdkaka tastes a lot better than it sounds. This dense, sticky chocolate mud cake is like a Swedish version of a brownie. It gets its soft, gooey centre from not being baked all the way through, which is also what makes it so uncommonly tasty. Serve with whipped cream and raspberries and don’t be shy about going back for seconds. 

Kladdkaka
A traditional kladdkaka is a Swedish take on mud cake or brownies. It is a delicious, rich chocolate cake which is easy to bake and can be found in most Swedish cafés. Photo: Magnus Carlsson/imagebank.sweden.se


Napoleon cake

Named after Napoleon Bonaparte, it will come as no surprise that this classic Swedish pastry is based on a French recipe. It is essentially no different to a French mille-feuille vanilla slice, or a British custard slice, in the sense that it is full of cream and custard and smothered in fresh strawberries or strawberry jam. What is different, however, is the Napoleon pastry has been awarded its very own day in the Swedish calendar, 17 November. 

Lots of Swedish goodies for the fika.
A Swedish 'fika' with a variety sweets. Fika is however much more than having a coffee and a bite to eat - it is an important social event, where you get the opportunity to recharge and share a moment with friends, or just yourself. Photo: Tina Stafrén/imagebank.sweden.se
 

SOURCE

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Investment Objective and Strategies - Anthony Norman

Image
Investment Objective The investment objective of the Marathon Value Portfolio (the “Fund”) is to provide shareholders with long-term capital appreciation in a well-diversified portfolio. Principal Strategies The Fund primarily will provide the investor broad exposure to what the Fund’s advisor, Kovitz Investment Group Partners, LLC, believes are the best opportunities or values in common stocks of U.S. companies. These opportunities or values typically will be stocks of companies that, in the advisor’s opinion, do not reflect the intrinsic value of the companies. The advisor intends that the Fund will invest primarily in common stocks of U.S. companies that have potential “value” in the advisor’s judgment. The advisor believes that determining value involves an effort to understand a company’s assets and business strengths and to compare those to the current price of the company’s stock. It is worth noting that in today’s economy, assets are often intangible. A value in
Read more

Navigating Turbulence: A Guide for Executives in Corporate Turnaround

  The ability to navigate through turbulence and steer a course toward corporate turnaround requires a strategic and informed approach. In this article, we delve into the guide for executives in corporate turnaround, providing insights into the key principles and strategies essential for leading through turbulent times. 1. Visionary Leadership: Setting the Course The foundation of successful corporate turnaround lies in visionary leadership. Executives must not only comprehend the current challenges but also possess the foresight to envision a path forward. Visionary leaders inspire confidence, articulate a compelling vision, and guide their teams with clarity through the turbulent waters. In times of crisis, the ability to instill hope and provide direction becomes a hallmark of effective leadership. 2. Strategic Decision-Making: Charting a Clear Path Amidst turbulence, strategic decision-making becomes a beacon of stability. Executives must analyze the complex and dynamic business en
Read more

Cosy campfires – and how to play it safe

Image
 Sweden’s right of public access allows anyone to light a fire out in the nature. But there are restrictions to safeguard Sweden’s beautiful but timber-rich countryside.   Arrive in the natural wonderland that is Sweden and you’ll enjoy the right of public access – giving you freedom to roam the countryside across land and water. Go for a relaxing walk and stop to pick berries along the way or take a swim in a lake. Pitching a tent for a night or two in the wilderness is part of the freedom to roam, too. To complete the experience, what could be cosier than sitting by a campfire as night falls ? Making fires is allowed in the Swedish countryside – but only when conditions are safe. Campfires make some landowners nervous – and understandably so. Many forest fires are unintentionally caused by campfires every year – and with dire consequences. Sweden has suffered significant fires in recent years due to the unusually dry, hot summers Scandinavia has experienced. Fire bans in
Read more