ScandiKitchen: Fika and Hygge: Comforting cakes and bakes from Scandinavia with love

by Brontë Aurell

A follow-up to the successful 'The ScandiKitchen' (published September 2015), this new book from Brontë Aurell features over 60 recipes for cakes, bakes and treats from all over Scandinavia. From indulgent cream confections to homely and comforting fruit cakes and traditional breads, sweet buns and pastries.

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction, Food, Cooking, Scandinavian Literature, Cultural, Adult

290 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 11, 2018

About the author

I’m Brontë, a food writer and co-founder of ScandiKitchen, a café, grocery shop, online store and wholesale business. After I moved from Denmark to the UK and started a career in finance, I quickly realised that wasn’t for me. After some happy years working for Innocent drinks, I launched ScandiKitchen with my Swedish husband Jonas on 10th July 2007 – and gave birth to our first child a few hours later, just for an additional challenge.

So far, I’ve authored a few cookery books and published my own guide to hygge after an essay I wrote about it caused a mini media controversy. My mostly non-food book Nørth: How To Live Scandinavian is a humorous, but incisive look at what it means to be Scandinavian. I also manage to get out of the kitchen to appear on TV and radio as a cook, guest chef and talking about life as an entrepreneur, as well as helping with brand and recipe development for various companies. I created the #proudimmigrant movement in 2014 as a response to my own experiences as someone from overseas living and working in the UK.

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic Scandinavian baking. Fika and hygge come together in this compilation of cozy and comforting recipes for home baked sweet treats. I loved the information about Scandinavian culture and thought the photographs were beautiful. This is a true delight to read and really gives you the feeling of hygge. I just want to stay home tomorrow and bake all day, and then laze around in the evening, reading a book and enjoying my homemade goodies!

[Beth Bonini · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cookbook was a Christmas gift from a friend who appreciates the atmosphere of “hygge” (the feeling of inner warmth) and the practice of “fika” (coffee and cake break) just as much as I do. We trade cookies (and cookie recipes) and sample the cinnamon buns of cafes all over London. We also love hearing about baking traditions, and have been known to interrogate friends about their most beloved recipes. I read this book cover to cover a few days after Christmas; and although my shelves (and freezer) were groaning with baked goods, it made me desperately want to bake something!

The photographic styling has the clean, spare look associated with “Scandi” style. There are beautiful photographs - not only of cookies and cakes and pretty coffee pots, but also of Scandinavian landscapes in winter. This book is definitely a visual treat. I also enjoyed the way that the author interleavened information about Scandinavian baking traditions in between the chapters. When I read that the traditional Swedish coffee morning would include “seven kinds of biscuits” I knew that I had found a kindred cultural spirit. It was fascinating to learn how coffee/cake meetings also became an outlet for community affairs and even political resistance during the various periods when the region was occupied by Germans (who tended to ban the consumption of alcohol).

A lot of my friends wonder how I can enjoy baking so much but am not tempted to gorge on the finished product. The Swedish idea of “lagom” (balance) seems to come naturally to me as well; at least that is what I’m always striving for. Everyone who comes to my house know that they will be leaving with a goodie bag!

Note: this book is entirely devoted to fika treats (cookies, cake, pastry, buns) so don’t bother with it if you don’t have a sweet tooth. Christmas gift from Caroline Richardson, Christmas 2018.

[Milton Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a person who has married into a Scandinavian family, I love to learn about their culture, especially through their food. This is a follow up book to the first put out by Scandikitchen, a Scandinavian bakery located in London. The recipes are written out well, and include both metric and American measurements. The pictures are beautiful and give you a good idea of what your creation aims to look like in the end. I always appreciate this! In addition, each recipe includes an explanation of where it comes from and how it is important to that culture. All in all, this is a fantastic cookbook for those looking to add more hygge into their lives.

Ashley C. / Milton Public Library #CheckOutMPL

[Blaine DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!!! What a great cookbook. I recently read a book on Hygge and when I spotted this I knew I needed to pick it up. For those who don't know, Hygge is a Danish way of life and simple, happy living. Two of the things that are definitely Hygge are meats and sweets. Well, after this book there is no need to search elsewhere for sweets. Fika is the Danish style of having coffee and a sweet confectionary either by yourself as a work break, or even better sharing it with another. The book is loaded with great recipes. We recently fell in love with Aebleskivers and the recipe in this book is wonderful. Now, we have yet to purchase and Aebleskiver skillet (possible Mothers Day gift for my wife!), so what we do is make the Aebleskiver batter and then make them as pancakes, top with either jam or maple syrup and it is DIVINE!!!
There are so many amazing sweet pastries here that my wife has already focused upon the next five she wants to make. My only issue is that so many recipes call for Cloudberries and there are no such things here in South Carolina! Have to figure out a substitute - if any of you have something let me know!
Wonderful book, top notch photography and recipes that call our for at least 2 or 3 work breaks per day!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully presented sweet-treats book, with fun descriptions and cultural details too!
I was happily surprised to see just how many recipes are included, and having lived in Denmark for several years, I can attest to their Scandinavian authenticity :) I can't wait to bake some of the delicious nibbles I've been missing since we moved away.

Each recipe is nicely laid out, well-written and easy to follow...and most importantly, actually achievable! It's not style over substance by any means.
So far I've made the Swedish Sticky Cake (Kladdkaka) and it is SO good! I've made it twice already - once the original and now the milk/plain chocolate version - and they've been a huge hit with anyone fortunate enough to get a piece before I ate it all :D

If you're interested in having a taste of Scandinavia via sweet delicious cake, this is the book to have!

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a nice change of desserts for me. Lots of fruit and new spices for me to use, especially cardamom. Perry is happy that there is less chocolate around so far this holiday season. I love the cultural stuff shared at the beginning of each recipe about lifestyle, traditions, and the history of the recipe development. Author does a nice job of making the recipes usable for Americans as well as Europeans, and allows for some flexibility of ingredients. Although, I'm definitely going to get my hands on hartshorn (baker's ammonia) and pearl sugar....I want real results with some of these dishes. :)

[Bundt · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Fika” means to meet up for a chat over a cup of coffee, while “Hygge” means a state of inner warmth or satisfaction felt spending time with loved ones. A collection of over 60 recipes for cakes, bakes and treats from all over Scandinavia ranging from saffron Bundt cake with pears and gingerbread with lingonberries to hazelnut and mocha squares from Denmark, rye bread layer cake with cherries, Princess cake, Danish ebleskivers, and modern creations like blondies with lavender and lemon and baked cheesecake with cloudberries, you can cultivate your very own hygge at home.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter's new favorite book! Beautiful recipes. My daughter made some pretty simple and delicious cookies from this book. Probably more suited to fall and winter than a humid Midwestern July.

[Angela Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very quick read for me. I picked it up at the library at 4:00 and by 9:00 I was done reading it. I enjoyed the way the author talked about Hygge and her experiences with it. She also compares Danish, Norwegian, and the Swedish and the way they all practice Hygge. There were many great recipes included in this book - a few in which I plan on making for myself. At the beginning of each recipe she tells a story behind the recipe. I like this added personal touch. There are also quotes at the beginning of the chapters which I enjoyed. One of my favorites is a Julia Child quote - A party without a cake is just a meeting. This is a book that you should add to your collection.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was sweet comfort in a book. I wanted to eat everything. I would try to make all of this but I know that it would never turn out like the picture. There seemed to be a picture with every recipe and there were even whole page spreads on comfort and relaxation. Most of the recipes seemed to have an abundance of ingredients, however, these seemed to be recipes that I would make on the weekend when I have plenty of time. A relaxing time baking before my relaxing time. I love this idea!!!

[dedd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love!! There are many easy recipes with ingredients that are easy to source. The pictures of the food are amazing of course but its a treat to have the beautiful scenery of Scandinavia in there too. The book really gave me the feels of hygge! Can't wait to make some of the recipes!!

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly exceptional book. The basic sponge cake recipe was so good I used it to bake my own wedding cake! The recipes are wonderful yet achievable, the photography is beautiful, and the presentation is perfect. This is my new baking bible!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to return this to the library before baking from it. However, it is filled with recipes I really wish to make from about mid-October through March - prime hygge season. I've asked for it for Christmas.

[Elizabeth Judd Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking forward to baking some tasty food! There's lots of familiar treats here as well as some new things I have never eaten.

[Stella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty photos. Interesting background info. But recipes are too complicated for my liking.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book. Quite enjoyable.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some wonderfully mouthwatering recipes. I didn't read too much of the text as the book was greatly overdue to the library.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic Scandinavian dessert recipes - yum! These vary in difficulty, and are from all over Scandinavia, but the back stories are good and the photos are stunning.

[Nathalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful book! Lots or recipes: I want to make them all! The recipes are easy to follow. Every recipe has a photograph. And the photographs are gorgeous. Really recommend this book!

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delicious recipes that satisfy the hygge lifestyle.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous, and yummy!

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loads of yum recipes to try. Warming and informative story along the way. Gorgeous photographs for every recipe (a must have in my mind).

[Trudy Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

The recipes inspire that feeling of going to my Norwegian grandparents home for special occasions. I had forgotten that feeling of the pleasure of eating a familiar pleasure with a good cup of coffee and close family. Perfect for during a pandemic.

[Kerwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know that my sister loves me because she gifted this to me. It's really that simple.
I've taken a Scandi Christmas cookie class, traveled Norway in the winter, gone to the Nordic Intl Film Festival in NYC several times. She has paid attention. And I love her to the moon.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

a list of recipies you want to bake for tea time with a cup of tea and a friend or a book.

[Ratih Cahaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buku resep yg menarik. Kalau Fika lebih khusus ke budaya Swedia aja, kalau ini sesuai judulnya, lebih luas ke budaya Scandinavia. Dilengkapi foto-foto yg bikin ngiler.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a person who has married into a Scandinavian family, I love to learn about their culture, especially through their food. This is a follow up book to the first put out by Scandikitchen, a Scandinavian bakery located in London. The recipes are written out well, and include both metric and American measurements. The pictures are beautiful and give you a good idea of what your creation aims to look like in the end. I always appreciate this! In addition, each recipe includes an explanation of where it comes from and how it is important to that culture. All in all, this is a fantastic cookbook for those looking to add more hygge into their lives.