Swedish Kladdkaka (Sticky Cake) / Brownies

The famous Swedish kladdkaka is a rich, gooey chocolate cake that is served with whipped cream or ice cream. My quick, failproof recipe requires only a pot, a pan and an oven. Deliciously crispy on the outside and depending on how long you bake it, the inside will be gooey or sticky (for kladdkaka) or chewy (for brownies).

Havrebollar / Oatballs (Lincals Style)

Those of us who grew up in Sweden remember these mild, creamy bites sold in most kiosks and cafés. In contrast to the more flavorful chocolate balls, they have a mild flavor of vanilla, coconut and barely there cocoa. Grinding the oatmeal and beating the mixture for several minutes results in the distinguishable soft, airy consistency.

Merry Christmas!

A few more traditional recipes for the Julbord / Christmas table.

3 Sorters Sill (Swedish Pickled Herring)

Swedish style herring can be difficult to find when living abroad. We used to buy ours at IKEA, but this year their selection was limited. Fresh or brined herring filets are really hard to get here in southern California, but we were lucky to find Bismarck Herring at a local European market. I then used the fish to make my own versions of pickled herring.

Juicy Country-Style Ribs

Thick, sticky ribs are always part of our Christmas table and I love them with a little apple sauce on the side. The trick to juicy, tender meat is preboiling first, then grilling or baking with lots of yummy glaze. The best part is that you can do most of the cooking the day before, and just grill/bake them before serving.

Prinskorv (Traditional Swedish Sausage)

Making sausage is easier then you would think, but requires a few special tools. We have missed these precious, little wieners on our Christmas table, so this year we decided to make them ourselves. They turned out delicious, in fact they taste better than store bought!

Polkagrisar / Peppermint Candy

Making candy is not difficult as long as you take care not to burn yourself on the hot sugar solution. The red and white peppermint flavored candy is a classic, but my favorite is ginger! With heat resistant silicon gloves and a silicone mat it is easy and fun to create your own colorful candy.