Flavors of Denmark

Merry Christmas / God Jul
Hygge is omnipresent and palpable in Denmark during the holidays. But what is hygge? Essentially it means creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people. The warm glow of candlelight is hygge, moments of happiness that one wishes would last forever. 

In the two weeks before Christmas, Danes get busy baking cookies and cakes whose recipes have been handed down for generations. There are many favorites. Among the classics are pebernødder (pepper nuts), brunkager (brown cookies) and vaniliekranse (vanilla rings). Besides that, you simply can’t go through a Danish Christmas period without being offered æbleskiver with gløgg – ball-shaped donuts served with marmalade and powdered sugar, plus a cup of mulled wine containing spices, raisins and almonds.

Everyone has enjoyed delicious Danish butter cookies, available in prettily decorated tins. They're made primarily from butter, flour and sugar and are easy to make. Danes start eating them in Advent, but be careful! They're so good that when you start eating them, it's hard to stop!

On Christmas Eve, big bowls of rice pudding are prepared, served for "little Christmas" ((lillejuleaften), enriched with butter, sugar and cinnamon.