In the Nordic nations of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, there is a traditional wedding cake which looks like no other in the world: the Krokan! Read on to learn more about this Viking-inspired wedding cake!
Hey, Christie!
Erik and I are getting married next year and are still looking for a location.
We would love to celebrate our cultures into our wedding. Erik is Danish and I’m Swedish. Is there anything of which you can think?
Thanks!–Astrid in Albany, Oregon
Hey, Astrid!
Thank you for reaching out to me! We’d love to host your wedding here at Ainsworth House & Gardens!
My suggestion is that you opt for a Scandinavian wedding cake. In Sweden, it’s called a “Krokan.” When the current Swedish king and queen married in 1976, they had a gorgeous Krokan at their wedding constructed from individual, intricately decorated rings.
It’s a popular dessert in Sweden which is baked from almond flour, sugar, and egg whites in thin layers to form a very decorative pastry. The baker used melted, caramelized sugar to construct a tower from the individual circles. Often it is decorated with marzipan roses and crisscross patterns made from icing. Because there is a skill in making a Krokan, it was the Showstopper Challenge for The Great British Baking Show’s Episode 9 in Season 13.
In Denmark and Norway (which at one time were one kingdom), this is called Karansekage (in Danish) or Kransekake in Norwegian and means “wreath cake.” The wreath cake is served at weddings, baptisms, Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Constitution Day.
First created by a baker in Copenhagen in the 18th. century, this cake made from concentric layers of cake has become popular throughout the Nordic regions.
According to tradition, In Denmark and Norway, the bride and groom lift the top layer of the cake at their reception: The number of cake rings that stick to the top layer predicts the number of children they will have!
The cake is then served to guests by separating the individual rings which are then broken into smaller pieces.
In case you are into world records, the tallest Kransekake was created in 2006—it was 13.17 meters or over 43 feet tall!
Let’s dive into the fun of planning your wedding here!
Your friend in the wedding business,
Christie Shyne
Images courtesy of The Great British Baking Show, Ainsworth House & Gardens, and A Simple Homestead.
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