65 Delicious Nordic and Scandinavian Christmas Recipes

ByKristi

Ready to celebrate Christmas with Scandinavian style? These Nordic-inspired recipes include both traditional and modern dishes that are sure to set the tone for a delicious holiday season. Keep reading for 65 recipe ideas from the food traditions of Sweden, Norway and Denmark!

Breakfast and Brunch

Traditional Swedish Pancakes (Pannkakor)
An easy and delicious recipe for tender and delicate Swedish Pancakes (Pannkakor). 
Check out this recipe
Close up of 3 Swedish pancakes on a plate topped with lingonberries.
Æbleskiver (Classic Danish Pancake Balls)
Warm, buttery and delicious Danish pancake balls. Perfect dusted with powdered sugar and served with jam!
Check out this recipe
Close up of Danish Pancakes (æbleskiver) next to raspberry jam.
Norwegian Waffles (Hjertevafler)
Buttery heart shaped waffles flavored with cardamom and vanilla.  Perfect with whipped cream and fresh berries!
Check out this recipe
Waffle topped with Whipped Cream and Roasted Strawberries next to a fork.
Baked Nordic Oat and Rye Porridge
A hearty and delicious baked oat and rye porridge with wild blue berries and toasted almonds.
Check out this recipe
Baked oat and rye porridge with blueberries and almonds in a pan
Swedish Cheese Pie (Västerbottenpaj)
A delicious quiche-like dish featuring a tender, all butter crust and a rich filling of eggs, cream, milk and cheese.
Check out this recipe
Close up of Swedish Cheese Pie (Västerbottenpaj) with a salad and fork.
Danish Egg Cake with Potatoes, Bacon and Chives (Æggekage)
A quick and easy Scandinavian style omelet with potatoes, bacon and chives.  A perfect meal for any time of day!
Check out this recipe
Danish egg cake in a pan sitting on a kitchen towel
Easy Cardamom French Toast
A deliciously simple recipe for foolproof French toast flavored with comforting cardamom, cinnamon and vanilla.
Check out this recipe
Featured image for Cardamom French Toast.

Cookies and Bars

Krumkake (Traditional Norwegian Waffle Cookies)
A buttery and delicately beautiful cone-shaped cookie.
Check out this recipe
Close up of a pile of krumkaker.
Hazelnut Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies (Hallongrottor)
Buttery hazelnut cookies filled with a jewel-like center of sweet raspberry jam, these Raspberry Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies (Swedish Hallongrottor) are both eye-catching and irresistible.
Check out this recipe
Raspberry thumbprint cookies on a marble surface with a glass of milk.
No-Bake Swedish Chocolate Balls (Chokladbollar)
A deliciously simple no bake cookie featuring oats and chocolate. A true Swedish classic!
Check out this recipe
Featured image of Swedish Chocolate Balls.
Lemon Wafer Cookies
The perfect lemon wafer cookie...buttery and tender with just the right amount of lemon flavor and covered in a light cream cheese glaze to finish things off just right.
Check out this recipe
A stack of Nordic Lemon Wafers on a marble surface next to a glass of milk.
Rye Chocolate Chip Cookies with Brown Butter
These Rye Chocolate Chip Cookies are sophisticated and delicious take on the classic recipe. Made with dark rye flour, brown butter and a sprinkle of sea salt, these crave worthy cookies are sure to become a new family favorite!
Check out this recipe
Close up of Rye Chocolate Chip Cookies sprinkled with sea salt next to a glass of milk.
Swedish Chocolate Slice Cookies (Chokladsnittar)
Chokladsnittar (Swedish Chocolate Cookie Slices) are deliciously rich and chocolatey cookies that are shaped into logs, baked and sliced. These irresistibly simple cookies are buttery, crisp and perfect with an afternoon cup of coffee.
Check out this recipe
Overhead view of coffee and Swedish Chocolate Slice Cookies (Chokladsnittar)
Easy Almond Macaroons
A simple recipe for almond macaroons that are crispy on the outside with a soft, chewy exterior. Gluten-free and only 5 ingredients!
Check out this recipe
Close up of the inside of an almond macaroon.
Swedish Oatmeal Cookies (Havreflarn)
Swedish Oatmeal Cookies (Havreflarn) are light and crispy with a delicate crunch. They are the perfect accompaniment to an afternoon cup of tea or coffee!
Check out this recipe
Close up of a stack of Swedish Oatmeal Cookies (Havreflarn).
Swedish Ginger Cookies (Pepparkakor)
A truly special Swedish Ginger Cookie with a crispy outer edge and a pleasantly chewy center.  The perfect accompaniment with coffee, tea or mulled wine (glögg).
Check out this recipe
A close up of a stack of Swedish Ginger Cookies (Pepparkakor).
Mandelmusslor (Swedish Almond Tart Cookies)
Crisp, buttery, almond flavored tarts that are delicious plain or filled with something sweet.
Check out this recipe
Mandelmusslor on a marble surface next to a cup of coffee.
Swedish Checkerboard Cookies (Schackrutor)
Make classic Swedish Checkerboard Cookies (Shackrutor) - buttery vanilla and chocolate shortbread squares found in Stockholm bakeries. Easy, elegant, and perfect for fika or holiday cookie trays.
Check out this recipe
Close up of a stack of Checkerboard Cookies.
Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Cookies
Pillowy soft and topped with a simple sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar, these tender Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Cookies are a deliciously sweet treat that are easy enough to bake (and enjoy) any day of the week.
Check out this recipe
Close up of a stack of buttermilk cookies.

Breads and Buns

Swedish Limpa Bread
Limpa is a classic Swedish rye bread with a tender crumb and a hint of fragrant orange and anise seed. While some rye breads can be tricky to work with, this recipe is incredibly simple. If you are new to baking rye bread at home, this Swedish Limpa is the perfect place to start.
Check out this recipe
Slices of Swedish Limpa Bread
Easy Swedish Crispbread (Knäckebröd)
A simple recipe for Swedish Crispbread (Knäckebröd) featuring dark rye flour and oats.  A delicious and nutritious accompaniment to snacks and meals at any time of day!
Check out this recipe
Close up of Easy Swedish Crispbread (Knäckebröd) on a plate.
Traditional Swedish Cardamom Buns (Kardemummabullar)
These traditional Swedish cardamom buns are soft, tender and bursting with cardamom flavor. They are also surprisingly easy to make at home!
Check out this recipe
Close up of cardamom bun.
Swedish Cinnamon Buns (Kanelbullar)
Traditional Swedish Cinnamon Buns (Kanelbullar) made with a sweet, buttery cardamom dough and a brown sugar cinnamon filling. Golden brown on the outside and soft and tender on the inside, they are cinnamon bun perfection!
Check out this recipe
Close up view of a Swedish Cinnamon Bun (Kanelbullar).
Kavring (The Easiest Swedish Rye Bread)
Kavring is a delicious Swedish rye bread that is dark in color and slightly sweet in flavor. This incredibly easy recipe contains NO yeast and is instead leavened with baking powder and baking soda.
Check out this recipe
Kavring bread sliced on a wooden cutting board.
St. Lucia Buns (Lussekatter)
A soft, slightly sweet Scandinavian saffron bun that is traditionally served on St. Lucia Day (December 13th).
Check out this recipe
St. Lucia Buns on a marble plate.

Appetizers

Potato and Pickled Herring Bites with Remoulade
An easy and delicious Scandinavian-inspired appetizer with sliced potatoes, curry remoulade sauce, pickled herring and fresh dill.  A simply elegant beginning to a festive evening!
Check out this recipe
A close up of pickled herring bites topped with dill
Homemade Gravlax (Easy Cured Salmon Recipe)
Silky smooth in texture and perfectly flavored with aquavit, dill and white pepper, this traditional gravlax is delicious and surprisingly easy to make at home.
Check out this recipe
Close up of gravlax on a white platter with dill and lemons.
Traditional Toast Skagen (Swedish Shrimp Toasts)
An easy and elegant Swedish appetizer...crispy, buttery toast topped with creamy shrimp salad and caviar. A perfect way to begin a memorable evening!
Check out this recipe
Close up of Toast Skagen topped with caviar.
Vegetarian Mushroom Pâté
This Vegetarian Mushroom Pâté is a showstopper of an appetizer that can be prepared completely ahead of time. Rich and savory in flavor, this wholesome pâté made with mushrooms and almonds is loved by vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike.
Check out this recipe
Crackers topped with Vegetarian Mushroom Pâtë and pickled shallots and mustard seeds.
Cream Cheese Cucumber Bites with Dill
A deliciously simple cucumber snack recipe featuring refreshing cucumber rounds topped with a savory cream cheese and dill mixture.
Check out this recipe
Close up of Cream Cheese Cucumber Bites with Dill.
Blue Cheese and Pear Appetizers
Tasty rye toasts topped with creamy blue cheese, homemade pear compote and toasted hazelnuts. The perfect starter for a delicious meal!
Check out this recipe
Close up of Blue Cheese and Pear Appetizer.
Swedish Fruit Soup (Fruktsoppa)
A delicious combination of simmered, tender dried fruit flavored with cinnamon.
Check out this recipe
Swedish Fruit Soup topped with whipped cream.

Main Dishes

Easy Swedish Meatballs with Gravy (Köttbullar)
An easy and streamlined recipe for classic Swedish Meatballs.  Tiny spiced meatballs blanketed in a creamy, savory gravy and served alongside lingonberry jam and fresh pickled cucumbers.  Easy enough for a cozy Nordic supper any night of the week!
Check out this recipe
Featured image for Swedish Meatballs with Gravy.
Really Good Vegetarian Swedish Meatballs
A delicious plant-based version of traditional Swedish meatballs featuring lentils, mushrooms, and just the right spices.
Vegetarian Swedish meatballs on a plate with a fork lingonberries and a pickle.
Baked Salmon with Butter and Brown Sugar
An easy and elegant salmon dish that comes together in about 30 minutes.  Perfect for effortless entertaining!
Check out this recipe
Close up of Baked Salmon with Butter and Brown Sugar on a baking sheet.
Rustic Butternut Squash Galette with Rye Crust
A deliciously rustic savory tart made with a rye pastry crust and filled with roasted butternut squash and caramelized onions.
Check out this recipe
Slice of Butternut Squash Galette on a white plate next to a fork and glass of wine.

Salads and Side Dishes

Hasselback Potatoes with Caramelized Onions and Sage Butter
Yukon Gold Potatoes sliced thin and topped with caramelized onions and sage butter. A delicious update to a Swedish classic!
Check out this recipe
Hasselback potatoes topped with herbs and onions on a marble surface
Quick Swedish Pickled Cucumbers
An easy recipe for Scandinavian-style fresh pickled cucumbers with dill.  
Check out this recipe
Quick Swedish Pickled Cucumbers in a jar next to peppercorns and fresh dill sprigs.
Spicy Quick Pickled Beets
Scandinavian style quick pickled roasted beets with a spicy kick! The perfect compliment for all manner of Nordic inspired dishes.
Check out this recipe
Pickled beets in a jar next to spices and beets.
Foolproof Everyday Mashed Potatoes
An easy and reliable recipe for mashed potatoes that delivers perfect results every time.
Check out this recipe
Overhead shot of mashed potatoes in a white bowl topped with butter with a spoon.
Vegetarian Jansson's Temptation (Creamy Swedish Potato Casserole)
This Vegetarian Jansson's Temptation is a delicious Scandinavian potato casserole made with potatoes, onions, mushrooms and topped with crispy breadcrumbs and briny capers.
Check out this recipe
Spoonful of Vegetarian Jansson's Temptation being lifted out of a baking dish.
Celery Root and Potato Puree
An easy, sophisticated puree of celery root and potatoes.  Unbelievably creamy and delicious and completely make-ahead.  A great option for elegant and effortless entertaining!
Check out this recipe
A bowl of potato and celery root puree with a spoon on a wooden surface
Mushroom Gratin
A delicious and easy gratin with creamy, thyme-infused mushrooms covered with melty cheese, crispy bread crumbs and baked until golden brown and bubbly.
Check out this recipe
Close up of a spoonful of Mushroom Gratin.
Green Beans with Dill Caper Butter and Toasted Hazelnuts
Fresh green beans tossed with a zesty dill and caper compound butter and toasted hazelnuts. An easy and elegant side dish for any time of year!
Check out this recipe
Green beans and hazelnuts in a bowl on a wood surface.
Kale Salad with Butternut Squash
A delicious salad with kale, sweet roasted butternut squash and red onions and toasty pecans.  It makes a tasty leafy green side dish or a hearty main coarse salad.
Check out this recipe
Featured image for Kale and Butternut Squash Salad.
Roasted Beet Salad with Arugula, Rye and Creamy Herbed Skyr Sauce
This impressive and hearty salad is a delightful combination of flavors and textures: Earthy beets, spicy arugula, crisp shallots and pop-in-your-mouth rye berries all tossed in a honey mustard vinaigrette. And alongside there's a Creamy Herbed Skyr Sauce to perfectly compliment the components and bring them all together.
Check out this recipe
Roasted beet salad on a platter next to a napkin.
Swedish Beet Salad (Rödbetssallad)
A classic Swedish salad featuring pickled beets, crisp apples and a zippy creamy dressing.
Check out this recipe
Swedish Beet Salad in a bowl with a spoon.

Sauces and Condiments

No Cook Lingonberry Sauce (Stirred Lingonberries)
A simple but essential Scandinavian condiment made with lingonberries and sugar.  Delicious on nearly everything!
Check out this recipe
Close up of lingonberry sauce on a spoon.
Warm Mustard Dill Sauce
An easy and versatile Scandinavian-inspired warm mustard dill sauce.  Delicious served with salmon, chicken or even Swedish meatballs!
Check out this recipe
Close up of baked salmon topped with Warm Mustard Dill Sauce and a sprig of dill.
Traditional Mustard Dill Sauce for Gravlax (Gravlaxsås)
A zesty traditional accompaniment to cured salmon (gravlax).
Check out this recipe
Close up of gravlax on rye bread topped with a lemon wedge and fresh dill.
Homemade Pickled Mustard Seeds
Pickled mustard seeds are a delicious homemade condiment that provide big flavor and a delightful textural contrast to a variety of different dishes. They make a particularly nice addition to a charcuterie board or a topping for sandwiches, pâté, cheese, eggs and other rich foods.
Check out this recipe
Featured image for pickled mustard seeds.

Desserts

Gingerbread Cobbler with Apples and Pears
A cozy fall cobbler featuring a filling of spiced apples and pears and topped with gingerbread biscuits.
Check out this recipe
Gingerbread cobbler with apples and pears in a baking dish
Swedish Spice Cake (Mjuk Pepparkaka)
This Swedish Spice Cake is pure coziness in cake form: A moist, tender and simple spice cake flavored with the comforting flavors of gingerbread (think cinnamon, ginger and cloves) and drizzled with the possibly the easiest 3 ingredient powdered sugar icing you'll ever make.
Check out this recipe
Close up of slices of Swedish Spice Cake with lingonberries.
Creamy Lingonberry Mousse
A light and airy lingonberry mousse made with lingonberries, sour cream (or yogurt or skyr), whipped cream and stabilized with a little gelatin.  A delicious and impressive make-ahead dessert for any occasion!
Check out this recipe
Close up of an overhead shot of Lingonberry Mousse topped with frozen lingonberries.
Light and Creamy Orange Mousse
Creamy, festive and bursting with orange flavor, this simple orange mousse recipe can be made entirely ahead of time.
Check out this recipe
Light and Creamy Orange Mousse in a a glass next to a spoon and an orange.
Swedish Cream
An easy, creamy make-ahead dessert flavored with almond extract. Perfect for effortless entertaining!
Check out this recipe
Close up of a spoon in a serving of Swedish Cream topped with lingonberries.
Homemade Cardamom Ice Cream
A deliciously creamy Scandinavian-inspired homemade ice cream flavored with cardamom and vanilla.
Check out this recipe
Cardamom Ice Cream in a white dish on a wooden surface.
Spiced Pear Cake with Cardamom
A deliciously moist and simple bundt cake featuring tender, sweet pears, brown butter and warm spices.  The perfect afternoon treat with a cup of coffee!
Check out this recipe
Overhead view of Spiced Pear Cake with Cardamom next to pears and cardamom pods.
Simple Swedish Almond Cake (Mandelkaka)
This Swedish Almond Cake (Mandelkaka) is light, buttery, and infused with the delicate flavor of almonds, making it the perfect treat for a cozy afternoon fika.
Check out this recipe
Sliced Swedish Almond Cake on a marble plate
Brown Sugar Skyr Tart
A simply delicious tart made with an almond crust and a creamy, cheesecake-like skyr and brown sugar filling.
Check out this recipe
A slice of brown sugar skyr tart on a plate with a fork, napkin and a cup of coffee
Spice Cake with Dates, Rye and Salted Caramel Drizzle
A deliciously moist spice cake made with dates, warm spices and earthy rye flour and drizzled with warm salted caramel sauce before serving.
Check out this recipe
A slice of date cake drizzled with caramel on a plate next to a fork and cup of coffee.
Swedish Cardamom Cake (Kardemummakaka)
A simple, most bundt cake bursting with cardamom flavor.
Check out this recipe
Slice of bundt cake on a plate with a fork.
Norwegian Cloudberry Cream (Multekrem)
A deliciously decadent mix of whipped cream, sour cream, vanilla and cloudberry preserves.
Check out this recipe
Scandinavian Almond Tart filled with Cloudberry Cream.
Danish Apple Trifle
A delicious dessert featuring layers of homemade apple compote, crispy caramelized bread cubes and whipped cream.
Check out this recipe
Close up of apple trifle topped with whipped cream.

Drinks

Swedish Glögg
An easy and delicious recipe for classic Swedish mulled wine.  It will keep you warm and cozy all winter long.
Check out this recipe
A cup of mulled wine next to evergreen branches, spices and an orange.
White Swedish Glögg with Elderflower Liqueur (White Mulled Wine)
An aromatic and cozy mulled wine recipe featuring white wine, warm spices and elderflower liqueur.
Check out this recipe
Cup of white mulled wine with cinnamon sticks and spices.
Swedish 75 (Lingonberry Cocktail)
A refreshing Scandinavian take on the French 75 cocktail with sparkling wine, gin, lingonberry preserves and fresh lemon juice.
Check out this recipe
Champagne glass filled with Swedish 75 cocktail next to lingonberries.

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4 Comments

  1. Dear Kristi,
    CONGRATULATIONS for all your recipes, especially for those in the mid-December Nordstjernan edition. I tried to subscribe to your True North Kitchen blog, but the website would not accept my current Visa card information, even as you offered a free subscription for your cooking blog. But I would very much like to subscribe to your free blog.
    I found your glögg recipe very similar to my father's, which I have been brewing & refining for more than half a century, with many accolades and many multiple glassfuls consumed. However, you did teach me one ingredient to substitute, which was obvious but which I had somehow overlooked in all these years. Also, I soak my golden raisins in warm brandy ("reconstituting" them).
    I was able to see the table of contents for all your delicious recipes, and I will recommend this to our Vasa clubs throughout the SF Bay region.
    I also write many articles for Nordstjernan; so, I feel that link with you. Do let me know if you ever come out to our West Coast, or perhaps we can introduce you to many here with a virtual meeting featuring you and your cookbook.

    Thank you,
    Ted Olsson
    olssonted@gmail.comDear Kristi,
    CONGRATULATIONS for all your recipes, especially for those in the mid-December Nordstjernan edition. I tried to subscribe to your True North Kitchen blog, but the website would not accept my current Visa card information. But I would very much like to subscribe to your free blog.
    I found your glögg recipe very similar to my father's, which I have been brewing & refining for more than half a century, with many accolades and many multiple glassfuls consumed. However, you did teach me one ingredient to substitute, which was obvious but which I had somehow overlooked in all these years.
    I was able to see the table of contents for all your delicious recipes, and I will recommend this to our Vasa clubs throughout the SF Bay region.
    I also write many articles for Nordstjernan; so, I feel that link with you. Do let me know if you ever come out to our West Coast, or perhaps we can introduce you to many here with a virtual meeting featuring you and your cookbook.

    Thank you,
    Ted Olsson
    olssonted@gmail.com

    Reply

    1. Hi Ted,
      Thanks for your nice note! You definitely shouldn't have to pay for access to my blog. I will have to look into that and make sure there isn't something wrong with the subscription option. I'm curious what ingredient you are talking about in the glögg recipe? I just made a batch on Saturday and it was wonderful. My daughter lives in LA so I do get to the West Coast now and then. Thanks again for your message!
      Kristi

      Reply

      1. Kristi,
        Do be sure to let me know when you come to the SF Bay Area. We'd like to feature you at a program and at Sveadal, our Swedish Cultural Heritage Center, where we celebrate the oldest Swedish Midsummer in the US. Of course I'll celebrate it with an article in Nordstjernan.
        ~ TED

        Reply