Scandinavian Ring Cake

This beautiful Scandinavian Ring Cake is a cultural wonder! Traditionally, this easy cake recipe is made with 18 delightful sweet almond paste rings. This recipe is made for a smaller group, and serves 8-10 adults. We love the whimsical look of this tall, elegant cake. It would be perfect for weddings, holidays, or other special occasions. Topped with a sweet royal icing, this dreamy cake will bring everyone together. If you're someone who believes in the idea that eating certain types of foods can bring luck to you in the new year, this cake is a winner. Ring-shaped foods represent coming full circle, so take a bite and enjoy the good fortune.

Notes

Did You Know...?

Ring cakes, like this one, are traditionally eaten around the New Year as a means of good luck and prosperity for the year ahead. Ring cakes represent coming full circle, which could mean anything from general growth and development in your life, to getting a promotion at work, to having a baby or getting engaged. According to myth and lore, ring cakes are a good food to bring to party to celebrate your accomplishments and attract good fortune for future endeavors in the New Year.

In Italy, haschiacchiere, or honey-drenched balls of pasta dough fried and dusted with powdered sugar, are traditionally eaten at New Year’s parties. Other countries, like Poland, Hungary, and the Netherlands eat donuts, another ring-shaped delicacy. Holland is known for their hasollie bollen — a puffy, donut-like pastry filled with apples, raisins, and currants.

In certain cultures, it's customary to hide a special trinket or coin inside the cake, and whoever happens to find the item will be surrounded by luck in the New Year. During Mardi Gras, which takes place slightly after the new year in February, king cake is eaten. This is a ring cake colored purple, green and gold, which hides a plastic baby inside or underneath. The receiver of which is said to be lucky and prosperous in the New Year. 

Mexico has a similar tradition. Rosca de reyes is a ring-shaped cake decorated with candied fruit and baked with one or more surprise treats inside. In Greece, a festive round cake called vasilopita is baked with a coin hidden inside. Sweden and Norway have similar rituals in which they hide a whole almond inside rice pudding. In each of these scenarios, the person who finds the "prize" is said to be very fortune in the New Year.

Cooking Time15 min