This feels like a good time to say something profound, which is this: Swedish food is just so good.
Golden, buttery pastries baked to perfection; savory meatballs in a rich, creamy gravy; and tender cakes bursting with fresh berries.
It’s rich with lots of layers of flavor, but it’s humble and old-fashioned in all the right ways. It just goes straight to the heart. It is the very essence of comfort food.
1. Swedish Cinnamon Rolls
Cardamom has such a one-of-a-kind flavor, doesn’t it? When you get it just right, it gives this amazing fruity taste, but it’s definitely easy to go overboard.
In these cinnamon rolls, though? It adds this subtle background note that I just love with the spicy cinnamon. It’s a perfect match. And the topping is Swedish pearl sugar, which is a total revelation you’ll want to put on absolutely everything!
2. Swedish Lingonberry Sauce
My first time trying lingonberry sauce was with some homemade meatballs, and my friend made the sauce from scratch. YES.
I was a little unsure about pairing sweet, tart berries with savory meatballs and a salty gravy, but oh my gosh, it just works. You have to trust me on this one and just give it a try. It’s a total game-changer.
3. Traditional Swedish Saffron Buns (Lussekatter)
I’m pretty sure you could find these in every single house around Christmastime. They’re such a classic, and making them is so much fun. You don’t even need to break out the mixer for these!
I know saffron can be pricey, but it gives these buns the most beautiful color, and there really isn’t a good substitute. The best part is shaping the soft dough; all those amazing flavors just come alive.
Here’s a little tip I’ve picked up: soak the raisins in water before you add them to the buns so they don’t steal any moisture from the dough.
4. Swedish Cream Recipe
This is just an absolute dream in a bowl. Seriously. Imagine if a creme brulee and a panna cotta had a baby; this would be it. It’s so creamy, sweet, and silky smooth, and it’s just firm enough to scoop up with a little bit of strawberry compote.
The secret ingredient here that might surprise you is sour cream. It adds this amazing tang to the custard and gives the whole thing some delicious density.
5. Easy Homemade Ikea Swedish Meatball Recipe
I was so excited to see my friend making meatballs from scratch. If you’re going to have them anywhere, it has to be in Sweden!
These are such a great mix of pork and beef, but they also have potato and onion right in the meatballs, plus Worcestershire sauce in that incredible gravy. Talk about flavor!
For that perfect crispy outside, just give the meatballs a little toss in some flour before you fry them up.
6. Swedish Semlor Buns
I’ve spent years working on perfecting these little gems. We’re talking soft, sweet bread buns with just a hint of cardamom, filled with a heavenly combination of marzipan and whipped cream.
After spending so many winter days with my friend in Stockholm, nothing says Christmas to me like these huge buns with a dusting of powdered sugar.
You’ll need to scoop out the middle of the bun to make room for the filling, and then you add those bread crumbs to a bowl with grated marzipan, cream, and almond extract. Top it off with tons of whipped cream and just enjoy!
7. Vegan Yellow Split Pea Soup
This thick, warm soup is loaded with protein, super affordable, and the absolute perfect way to stay cozy during those long, cold Swedish winters.
I really love using yellow split peas for this because they have a slightly milder flavor, and they don’t turn that weird grey color after they cook!
You can keep things simple with just carrots, onion, and spices, or you can bulk it up with some potatoes or even leftover chicken.
8. Swedish Potato Pancakes (Raggmunk)
You can serve these up as a simple snack or as a side with some chicken or tender meatballs. Either way, they are so crunchy, salty, and totally irresistible. I always like to add some garlic to mine, and I’ve even been known to throw in some bacon!
For the absolute crispiest potatoes, you have to drain them and squeeze out any extra moisture. This makes sure they fry up perfectly instead of steaming.
9. Swedish Spinach Soup
With their cold winters, it’s really no surprise that Swedes are big soup fans. Is there anything better on a cold, dark day than a giant bowl of warmth? I mean, really! It might seem a little strange to base a soup just on spinach, but don’t worry.
There are so many other ingredients in here to make sure this is super tasty and filling. With onion, garlic, rosemary, and potatoes, you will not be left hungry. And that color is just out of this world!
10. Swedish Pancakes
You’ll notice these are a lot like crepes. They’re thin, sweet, and delicate, and they make a fantastic little snack or dessert when you have the right toppings.
If you’ve got the time, let the batter rest in the fridge before you start cooking. You can even whip it up the night before. These would be absolutely perfect with that lingonberry sauce!
11. Authentic Swedish Waffles Recipe
While you can totally make these in a regular waffle iron, I just love the look of the thinner, heart-shaped waffles you get from a Swedish waffle iron.
Since they’re thinner, they don’t need as long to cook. I like mine on the softer side, so I only cook them for a few minutes.
Traditionally, you’d see these served with lingonberry jam, but Nutella would be a delicious swap. You’ll notice the batter is much thinner than your usual waffle batter, and that’s totally normal. Just pour it carefully into the iron and don’t overfill it.
12. Swedish Rye Bread (Limpa)
Just like in other European countries, the Swedes love their bread dark and packed with rich flavor. This recipe is a little different because it’s slightly sweet. It’s got molasses, caraway, fennel, anise seeds, and orange zest, but you can still serve it as a sandwich loaf.
A really popular addition in Sweden is to add some grated carrot and toasted coconut on top.
13. Braised Swedish Red Cabbage
Braised cabbage is a super common side dish all over Europe, and most places keep it pretty simple. I really love using red cabbage because of its vibrant color. It just livens up any table! Plus, cabbage is so affordable and goes such a long way.
You’ll start this one like a lot of other recipes, by gently sautéing the shredded cabbage before adding vinegar, water, sugar, and salt.
But it gets really exciting near the end of the cooking time when this recipe adds red currant jelly and applesauce. It gives such a lovely sweet note to go with the tangy cabbage.
14. Pepparkakor (Swedish Ginger Cookies)
These are mostly served around the holidays, but they’re a delightful little cookie any time of year. This recipe uses dark corn syrup, which gives a depth of flavor you just won’t get otherwise.
Molasses would be a fantastic alternative, but the texture might be a little different. I love that there’s orange zest in the dough, and if you like your cookies extra spicy, try using some freshly grated ginger.
15. Swedish Visiting Cake
This light cake is absolutely packed with lemon and almond flavors, making it the perfect thing to have for a fika with a friend.
The cake itself is super straightforward and gets topped with sliced almonds and sugar, which creates a slightly crispy top once it’s baked. You can serve it warm or cold, and it doesn’t need anything more than a great cup of coffee.
16. Swedish Crispbread (Knäckebröd)
These are fantastic to serve at a buffet or with a really substantial dip. That dark rye flavor is just phenomenal, and I really love the addition of caraway seeds to the mix.
Most Swedes eat their sandwiches open-faced, with just one slice and no top. These thin crisps are absolutely perfect for holding spreads, eggs, and smoked salmon.
17. Crispy Hasselback Potatoes with Rosemary and Garlic
If you only try one thing from this list, please make it this! These potatoes, originally from a small tavern in Sweden, are crispy, tender, and just so, so good. Make sure to use Russets or Idaho potatoes to get the best texture after they’re cooked.
This recipe calls for bacon grease, which I always save whenever I make bacon. It is pure gold. You can find it in the chilled section of many European supermarkets. Another great option is to use a rosemary and garlic-infused olive oil.
18. Rice Porridge (Risengrød or Risgrynsgröt)
This is traditionally served at Christmas, where the cook will add an almond to the pot. Whoever finds it is said to be the next one to get married!
Any leftovers are usually served for breakfast the next day. Jasmine is the best rice to use for this, and you can totally swap the milk for coconut milk if you want to make it dairy-free.
19. Swedish Apple Pie
This ridiculously good pie is almost like an apple cobbler. Instead of a pastry layer, you’ll make a topping and spoon it right over your apple filling. As it bakes, that topping will seep down into the apples and create the most lovely crust.
Just be sure to cut your apples into a uniform size, either larger or smaller depending on what you like, and feel free to play around with the spices. I always like to add some freshly grated nutmeg to my apple pies.
20. Traditional Swedish Glogg
Mulled wine is an absolute must-have at Christmas, right? I love making a big batch and keeping it warm in the Crockpot. The longer it sits, the more flavorful it gets!
Glogg is popular all over Europe during the holidays, and you can even find it ready-made at the store. But I prefer making my own so I can control the spices. Extra cinnamon and orange for me, please!
Sweden takes it up another level by adding some bourbon. I think a spiced rum would also work really well here.
21. Swedish Potato and Anchovy Casserole (Jansson’s Temptation)
I’ve talked about how much I love potatoes before, and how dishes like this are the absolute peak of amazing sides. But this version is on another level! I never would have thought to add anchovies to my potatoes, especially with a creamy sauce.
But those little fish basically dissolve into the dish as it cooks, leaving behind this wonderful saltiness that just enhances the flavor perfectly.
22. Thumbprint Cookies (Hallongrotta)
I feel like most countries have their own version of these cookies, and for good reason! They are so buttery and sweet, and they seriously never last long in my house.
The name Hallongrotta actually means “raspberry cave” in Swedish, which is why raspberry jam is used. But of course, you can use whatever jam you love the most!
The absolute key to getting the most crumbly cookie is not to over-mix the dough. Just be gentle and try not to handle it too much.
23. Swedish Cheese Pie (Västerbottenostpaj)
Is it a cheese pie, or is it a quiche? I’ll let you be the judge. This amazing pie has everything I love: a flaky pastry crust with a ridiculously cheesy filling that you can serve either hot or cold.
You’ll definitely want to blind-bake the pie shell to make sure it cooks all the way through after you add the cheese mixture. I like to use dried beans to hold down the parchment paper when I do this.
For the filling, you’re going to need a lot of cheese—three cups, to be exact. Like I said, it’s sensationally cheesy! It’s pretty perfect just as it is, but like with anything, you can tweak it to your own tastes. I like to add in some onion and bacon to mine.
24. Swedish Blueberry Soup
It took me a second to wrap my head around this one, but hey, if we can have gazpacho for lunch, why can’t we have blueberry soup for breakfast? Wild blueberries are an absolute must for this recipe.
The flavor is just incredible, and they get flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg, plus a little maple syrup for sweetness. You just thicken it up with some cornstarch and serve it either hot or cold.
25. Swedish Almond Tart
If you’re a fan of frangipane or a classic British bakewell tart, then I bet this one is right up your alley. Buttery pastry, which you can just buy at the store, is filled with a sweetened almond mixture that becomes so spongy and tender when it bakes.
I prefer it with a touch of jam for some extra moisture and tartness, but it’s still delicious without it.