65 Authentic Nordic and Scandinavian Christmas Recipes

Celebrate the holidays with a Nordic twist. These carefully selected Scandinavian recipes—ranging from traditional favorites to contemporary interpretations—showcase the flavors and techniques of Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Below you’ll find breakfast and brunch ideas, cookies and bars, breads and buns, appetizers, mains, sides, sauces and desserts, plus warming drinks to complete a festive meal.

Breakfast and Brunch

Traditional Swedish Pancakes (Pannkakor)

Thin, tender Swedish pancakes served with lingonberries for a light, classic Nordic breakfast.

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Close up of 3 Swedish pancakes on a plate topped with lingonberries.

Æbleskiver (Classic Danish Pancake Balls)

Light, buttery Danish pancake balls, perfect dusted with sugar and served with jam.

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Close up of Danish Pancakes (æbleskiver) next to raspberry jam.

Norwegian Waffles (Hjertevafler)

Buttery heart-shaped waffles flavored with cardamom and vanilla—excellent with cream and berries.

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Waffle topped with Whipped Cream and Roasted Strawberries next to a fork.

Baked Nordic Oat and Rye Porridge

Hearty baked porridge combining oats and rye with wild blueberries and toasted almonds.

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Baked oat and rye porridge with blueberries and almonds in a pan

Swedish Cheese Pie (Västerbottenpaj)

A rich, quiche-like pie with a buttery crust and a creamy cheese-egg filling.

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Close up of Swedish Cheese Pie (Västerbottenpaj) with a salad and fork.

Danish Egg Cake with Potatoes, Bacon and Chives (Æggekage)

A savory Scandinavian omelet with potatoes, bacon and chives—easy and satisfying at any time of day.

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Danish egg cake in a pan sitting on a kitchen towel

Easy Cardamom French Toast

French toast flavored with cardamom, cinnamon and vanilla for a cozy breakfast treat.

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Featured image for Cardamom French Toast.

Cookies and Bars

Krumkake (Traditional Norwegian Waffle Cookies)

Delicate, buttery cone-shaped Norwegian cookies—elegant and crisp.

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Hazelnut Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies (Hallongrottor)

Buttery hazelnut cookies filled with bright raspberry jam—charming and irresistible.

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Raspberry thumbprint cookies on a marble surface with a glass of milk.

No-Bake Swedish Chocolate Balls (Chokladbollar)

A classic Swedish no-bake treat made from oats and chocolate—quick and nostalgic.

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Featured image of Swedish Chocolate Balls.

Lemon Wafer Cookies

Buttery, tender lemon wafers finished with a light cream cheese glaze—bright and delicate.

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A stack of Nordic Lemon Wafers on a marble surface next to a glass of milk.

Rye Chocolate Chip Cookies with Brown Butter

A sophisticated twist on chocolate chip cookies using dark rye flour, brown butter and sea salt.

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Close up of Rye Chocolate Chip Cookies sprinkled with sea salt next to a glass of milk.

Swedish Chocolate Slice Cookies (Chokladsnittar)

Buttery, chocolate-flavored logs baked and sliced into crisp cookies—ideal with coffee.

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Overhead view of coffee and Swedish Chocolate Slice Cookies (Chokladsnittar)

Easy Almond Macaroons

Five-ingredient almond macaroons—crispy outside, chewy inside and naturally gluten-free.

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Close up of the inside of an almond macaroon.

Swedish Oatmeal Cookies (Havreflarn)

Light, thin and crisp Swedish oat cookies—perfect with tea or coffee.

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Close up of a stack of Swedish Oatmeal Cookies (Havreflarn).

Swedish Ginger Cookies (Pepparkakor)

Thin, spiced ginger cookies with a crisp edge and chewy center—ideal with coffee or mulled wine.

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A close up of a stack of Swedish Ginger Cookies (Pepparkakor).

Breads and Buns

Swedish Limpa Bread

A classic rye loaf scented with orange and anise—approachable for home bakers and full of flavor.

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Easy Swedish Crispbread (Knäckebröd)

A simple, crunchy crispbread made with rye and oats—great with spreads and cheeses.

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Close up of Easy Swedish Crispbread (Knäckebröd) on a plate.

Traditional Swedish Cardamom Buns (Kardemummabullar)

Soft, fragrant cardamom buns that are tender and surprisingly easy to make at home.

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Swedish Cinnamon Buns (Kanelbullar)

Classic Swedish cinnamon buns made with cardamom dough and a brown sugar cinnamon filling—golden and tender.

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Close up view of a Swedish Cinnamon Bun (Kanelbullar).

Kavring (The Easiest Swedish Rye Bread)

A dark, slightly sweet rye loaf made without yeast—quick and rustic.

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Kavring bread sliced on a wooden cutting board.

St. Lucia Buns (Lussekatter)

Saffron buns that are soft and slightly sweet—traditionally served for St. Lucia Day but lovely anytime in winter.

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Appetizers

Potato and Pickled Herring Bites with Remoulade

A refined starter of sliced potatoes topped with pickled herring, curry remoulade and dill.

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A close up of pickled herring bites topped with dill

Homemade Gravlax (Easy Cured Salmon Recipe)

Silky cured salmon flavored with dill and aquavit—classic and elegant for a holiday spread.

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Close up of gravlax on a white platter with dill and lemons.

Traditional Toast Skagen (Swedish Shrimp Toasts)

Buttery toast topped with creamy shrimp salad and caviar—an elegant, easy appetizer.

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Close up of Toast Skagen topped with caviar.

Vegetarian Mushroom Pâté

A rich, make-ahead mushroom and almond pâté that works for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike.

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Crackers topped with Vegetarian Mushroom Pâtë and pickled shallots and mustard seeds.

Cream Cheese Cucumber Bites with Dill

Refreshing cucumber rounds topped with a savory cream cheese and dill mixture—simple and elegant.

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Close up of Cream Cheese Cucumber Bites with Dill.

Blue Cheese and Pear Appetizers

Toasted rye topped with blue cheese, pear compote and hazelnuts for a savory-sweet starter.

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Close up of Blue Cheese and Pear Appetizer.

Swedish Fruit Soup (Fruktsoppa)

Warm, spiced fruit soup made from simmered dried fruits—comforting as a starter or dessert.

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Swedish Fruit Soup topped with whipped cream.

Main Dishes

Easy Swedish Meatballs with Gravy (Köttbullar)

Classic spiced meatballs in a creamy gravy, served with lingonberry jam and pickles.

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Featured image for Swedish Meatballs with Gravy.

Really Good Vegetarian Swedish Meatballs

A flavorful plant-based version of Swedish meatballs using lentils and mushrooms.

Vegetarian Swedish meatballs on a plate with a fork lingonberries and a pickle.

Baked Salmon with Butter and Brown Sugar

Simple roasted salmon glazed with butter and brown sugar for an elegant main in about 30 minutes.

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Close up of Baked Salmon with Butter and Brown Sugar on a baking sheet.

Rustic Butternut Squash Galette with Rye Crust

A savory galette with a rye crust filled with roasted butternut squash and caramelized onions.

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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

Thinly sliced Yukon Gold potatoes finished with caramelized onions and sage butter for a show-stopping side.

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Hasselback potatoes topped with herbs and onions on a marble surface

Quick Swedish Pickled Cucumbers

Crisp, fresh quick-pickled cucumbers with dill—no canning required.

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Quick Swedish Pickled Cucumbers in a jar next to peppercorns and fresh dill sprigs.

Spicy Quick Pickled Beets

Roasted beets pickled with a spicy kick—an excellent complement to Nordic mains.

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Pickled beets in a jar next to spices and beets.

Foolproof Everyday Mashed Potatoes

A reliable method for fluffy, creamy mashed potatoes every time.

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Overhead shot of mashed potatoes in a white bowl topped with butter with a spoon.

Vegetarian Jansson’s Temptation (Creamy Swedish Potato Casserole)

A meatless take on the Swedish potato casserole made with mushrooms, onions and crunchy topping.

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Spoonful of Vegetarian Jansson's Temptation being lifted out of a baking dish.

Celery Root and Potato Puree

Silky, make-ahead puree of celery root and potatoes—elegant and comforting.

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A bowl of potato and celery root puree with a spoon on a wooden surface

Mushroom Gratin

Creamy thyme mushrooms topped with melted cheese and crispy breadcrumbs—baked until bubbly.

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Close up of a spoonful of Mushroom Gratin.

Green Beans with Dill Caper Butter and Toasted Hazelnuts

Fresh green beans tossed in dill-caper butter and finished with toasted hazelnuts for crunch and flavor.

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Green beans and hazelnuts in a bowl on a wood surface.

Sauces and Condiments

No Cook Lingonberry Sauce (Stirred Lingonberries)

A simple two-ingredient lingonberry sauce—sweet-tart and essential with many Nordic dishes.

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Close up of lingonberry sauce on a spoon.

Warm Mustard Dill Sauce

A creamy warm mustard and dill sauce that pairs especially well with salmon or chicken.

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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 mustard-dill vinaigrette that is the classic accompaniment for gravlax.

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Close up of gravlax on rye bread topped with a lemon wedge and fresh dill.

Homemade Pickled Mustard Seeds

Tangy pickled mustard seeds add texture and bright flavor to boards, sandwiches and rich dishes.

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Featured image for pickled mustard seeds.

Desserts

Gingerbread Cobbler with Apples and Pears

A cozy cobbler of spiced apples and pears topped with gingerbread biscuits—perfect for winter gatherings.

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Gingerbread cobbler with apples and pears in a baking dish

Swedish Spice Cake (Mjuk Pepparkaka)

A moist spice cake inspired by gingerbread spices, finished with a simple powdered-sugar glaze.

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Close up of slices of Swedish Spice Cake with lingonberries.

Creamy Lingonberry Mousse

A light, make-ahead lingonberry mousse stabilized with a touch of gelatin—airy and bright.

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Close up of an overhead shot of Lingonberry Mousse topped with frozen lingonberries.

Light and Creamy Orange Mousse

A bright, make-ahead orange mousse that’s creamy and festive.

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Light and Creamy Orange Mousse in a a glass next to a spoon and an orange.

Swedish Cream

A simple, almond-flavored make-ahead cream dessert—smooth and crowd-pleasing.

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Close up of a spoon in a serving of Swedish Cream topped with lingonberries.

Homemade Cardamom Ice Cream

Creamy homemade ice cream scented with cardamom and vanilla—distinctly Nordic and delicious.

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Cardamom Ice Cream in a white dish on a wooden surface.

Drinks

Swedish Glögg

Classic Swedish mulled wine spiced and fragrant—perfect for warming up winter gatherings.

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A cup of mulled wine next to evergreen branches, spices and an orange.

White Swedish Glögg with Elderflower Liqueur (White Mulled Wine)

A lighter mulled wine using white wine and elderflower liqueur for a floral, warming drink.

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Cup of white mulled wine with cinnamon sticks and spices.

Swedish 75 (Lingonberry Cocktail)

A refreshing lingonberry twist on the French 75 using gin, sparkling wine and lemon.

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