With a nip of autumn already in the air, it’s time to eat the Scandinavian way. From Danish dream cakes to Swedish Prinsesstårta to doughy swirls with lots of cinnamon in between, the best Scandinavian desserts can be found right here in London.
Prinsesstårta (Swedish princess cake): Bageriet
Vanilla sponge layered with raspberry jam, thick vanilla pastry cream, fluffy whipped cream, more vanilla sponge and a layer of super soft, delicately sweet, green marzipan around the outside. It’s all made in house, from the jam to the marzipan, and it seriously pays off.
24 Rose St, London WC2E 9EA
Hallongrotta (raspberry cave): Fabrique Bakery
A small, buttery, shortbread-like biscuit with a generous glob of raspberry jam in the middle.
Multiple locations
Drømmekage (Danish dream cake): Scandinavian Kitchen
Squidgy vanilla sponge with a thick, wonderfully rich, caramel and desiccated coconut topping.
61 Great Titchfield St, London W1W 7PP
Kladdkaka (Swedish sticky chocolate cake): Söderberg Bakery
Chocolate cake with a crisp upper layer, a dense, brownie-like interior and – not pictured – a dollop of whipped cream on the side. Swedish kladdkaka is deliberately under-baked to achieve its signature, ultra sticky texture.
36 Berwick St, London W1F 8RR
Cinnamon social: Ole & Steen
Long, braided pastry with two oozing fillings of cinnamon paste and vanilla custard, plus drizzles of icing on top. Imagine the ooey, gooey, perfectly soft centre of a traditional cinnamon bun, but in every single mouthful.
Multiple locations
Prinsesstårta (Swedish princess cake): Scandinavian Kitchen
Three layers of vanilla sponge sandwiched with raspberry jam, a little vanilla pastry cream, copious amounts of whipped cream plus green marzipan to finish, it’s big yet incredibly light.
61 Great Titchfield St, London W1W 7PP
Drømmekage (Danish dream cake): Hjem
Fluffy vanilla sponge with a layer of crunchy, chewy, semi-sweet, caramelised coconut on top.
3 Launceston Pl, London W8 5RL
Palsternackskaka (parsnip cake): Söderberg Bakery
Parsnip cake with cream cheese frosting, pieces of candied orange peel and a sprinkling of chopped almonds on top, it’s sweet and a little tangy, dense with a wonderful chew.
36 Berwick St, London W1F 8RR
Mazarin (Swedish almond tart): Bageriet
Crunchy shortbread dough with a sweet, undeniably moist, ground almond paste filling, plus a thin layer of icing on top.
24 Rose St, London WC2E 9EA
Kärleksmums (Swedish love cake): Scandinavian Kitchen
Chocolate cake with a glossy, bittersweet, chocolate coffee frosting, plus a sprinkling of dessicated coconut to finish, it’s light and fluffy at the base, deep and decadent on top.
61 Great Titchfield St, London W1W 7PP
Cremebulle (custard bun): Bageriet
Sugar-dusted cardamom bun filled with the lightest, smoothest, most heavenly, vanilla custard.
24 Rose St, London WC2E 9EA
Cinnamon bun: Bageriet
Delicate, buttery-soft cardamom dough rolled with cinnamon paste, plus lots of crunchy sugar pearls on top. The best cinnamon bun in London, especially when still warm from the oven.
24 Rose St, London WC2E 9EA
Cardamom bun: Fabrique Bakery
Cardamom-spiced bun with a cardamom filling and a sprinkling of cardamom sugar on top, it’s more spicy and citrusy than sweet, quite thick and crusty on the outside but soft and spongy within. Please note the picture is of the cinnamon bun, which is also nice but Fabrique Bakery is renowned for its unique cardamom bun.
Multiple locations
Almond social: Ole & Steen
Crisp, flaky, Danish puff pastry filled with a mixture of almond paste and vanilla custard, plus lots of sugar and flaked almonds on top.
Multiple locations
Chocolate almond cookie: The Bread Station
Soft, chewy cookie with whole almonds and wedges of dark chocolate, all organic ingredients handled by a Danish Michelin-starred chef.
373 Helmsley Pl, London E8 3SB
This list does not include Swedish semlor as they aren’t available all year round, sadly.
