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This homemade Swedish Pastry, also known as Danish Kringle, features a buttery crust, and an almond filling, and topped with an almond frosting. This buttery pastry is buttery, creamy, and has just the right sweetness. A holiday tradition!
Every single Christmas we gathered together with my cousins for a huge family party. My Aunt Vicki would bring her homemade Swedish Pastry, which was layers of buttery pastry topped with a sweet almond frosting. It was devoured in two seconds and I couldn’t imagine a Christmas without it!
My Mom began to deliver it to her neighbors at Christmas time. This Swedish Pastry is so unique that people would clamor for the recipe which is a recipe that has been passed down over the years.
It starts off with a flaky crust made with simple ingredients and is topped off with a light almond (can substitute vanilla) filling. It is baked until golden and perfectly puffed up. A sweet almond frosting is spread all over the baked filling. The beauty of this Swedish Pastry is that it is rich and buttery without being overly sweet.
What is Swedish Pastry or Kringle?
Swedish pastry has a bottom layer that is a buttery, shortbread-like crust. The second layer is a soft, custard-like almond filling made with butter, eggs, almond extract, and flour. Finally, the pastry is crowned with a smooth almond frosting that adds a touch of sweetness and more almond flavor. The result is a dessert that is flaky, creamy, and nutty with just the right amount of sweetness.
What Does Swedish Pastry Taste Like?
Swedish Pastry can also be called a Kringle and starts with a buttery crust that is tender and flaky, creating the perfect foundation for the creamy almond filling. The filling is rich and custard-like, with a subtle nuttiness that pairs beautifully with the sweetness of the frosting. The almond frosting is perfectly sweet and balances the buttery crust.
My brother, Ryan, lived in Denmark for two years and ate a fair share of pastries! European countries are not as sweet as the pastries we find in the United States. There are three layers to this pastry and only the top layer has sugar in it. This is why this Swedish Pastry, which can also be called a Danish pastry or Danish Kringle, is so darn delicious. It has so many layers of flavors!
What are other names for Swedish Pastry?
This can be referred to as Swedish Pastry but it can also be called a Kringle or Danish Kringle and can be shaped into an oval shape. You may have seen the Trader Joe’s Kringle go super viral because it is absolutely delicious and perfect to share with friends and family during the holidays. Now you can make a Danish Kringle recipe at home!
How to make Swedish Pastry or Danish Kringle:
Start by making the flaky crust using butter, flour and cold water and press into two rectangles on baking sheet.
Make the filling by bringing butter and water to a boil. Remove from the heat and add the flour, almond or vanilla extract, and eggs. Spread over rectangles.
Bake until nice and golden brown. Once cooled, frost with almond or vanilla frosting. Cut into wedges or rectangles to serve.
You can serve it with fresh raspberries, maraschino cherries, drizzle it with homemade jam, or top it with sliced almonds.
How can I make a Danish Kringle?
A Danish kringle is a beautifully shaped pastry, often round or oval, that combines a buttery crust, a rich almond filling, and sweet almond frosting.
Follow the directions for making Swedish pastry but instead of making two rectangles, you only make one and shape it into an oval. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of dough into a long rectangle, about 4-5 inches wide and 18-20 inches long.
Carefully transfer the rectangle onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Shape the dough into a circle or oval by bringing the two ends together. Overlap the ends slightly and pinch to seal. If needed, gently adjust the shape with your hands to make it smooth and even.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s):
1. Can I make this pastry ahead of time?
Yes! You can bake the pastry a day in advance and store it in an airtight container at room temperature. Add the frosting and almonds just before serving.
2. Can I freeze Swedish pastry?
Absolutely. Wrap the baked pastry tightly in plastic wrap or place in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature and frost before serving.
3. Can I use other extracts?
While almond extract is traditional, you can substitute it with vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste.
Tips for Success:
Chill the Dough: If your crust dough feels too soft to handle, chill it for 15-20 minutes before pressing it into the baking sheet.
Don’t Skip the Cooling: Let the pastry cool completely before adding the frosting to prevent it from melting.
Garnish: Try adding maraschino cherries or fresh fruit.
More Pastry Recipes:
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Swedish Pastry (Danish Kringle)
Equipment
Ingredients
Crust:
- 1/2 cup Butter cut into small cubes
- 1 cup Flour
- 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 2 Tablespoons Cold Water
Filling:
- 1/2 cup Butter
- 1 cup Water
- 1 cup Flour
- 1 teaspoon Almond or Vanilla Extract
- 3 Eggs
Sweet Almond Frosting:
- 4 Tablespoons Butter softened
- 1 3/4 – 2 cups Powdered Sugar
- 2 – 3 Tablespoons Whole Milk
- 1 teaspoon Pure Almond Extract Vanilla, or Vanilla Bean
- Sliced Almonds (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with cookie spray or line with silicone baking sheet (Silpat).
- In a medium bowl, using a fork or pastry cutter, combine butter, flour, and baking powder. Stir in cold water. Form into two balls and shape into two long and thin rectangles (about 4" x 9") on greased or Silpat lined cookie sheet. See notes below if you are making an oval Danish Kringle.
To make Filling:
- In a medium saucepan, bring butter and water to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in flour. Add almond or vanilla extract. Stir in eggs and mix until smooth.
- Spread filling over each rectangle, all the way to the edges.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 35-42 minutes or until light golden brown.
To make Frosting:
- Cream butter, powdered sugar, milk, and almond or vanilla extract. Once pastry has cooled, spread over each rectangle.
- Top with sliced almonds or fresh raspberries (optional) and cut into rectangles or wedges.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This Swedish Pastry is so reminiscent of happy Christmas memories spent with my family. Happy Baking, my friends! xo
Looks delicious. Refrigerate leftovers?
Hi Dee! You can wrap it in an air-tight container or bag and it can be left out on the counter. It doesn’t need to be refrigerated.
Thank you. 🙂
How far ahead can the pastry part be made?
Yum! Just tried some of this that your brother (I think! Jeff!) brought to work and shared. I look forward to trying to make it!
Melissa,
Did Ryan eat this type of pastry in Denmark? My daughter is on a mission there right now. I would love to get this recipe down “perfect” so I can make it for her and surprise her when she comes home! I’ll have lots of time because that will be Feb, 2018! ha-ha