Christmas in Denmark – what you need to eat

Pastries. Try as you might, it is almost impossible to avoid their advances when you move to (or visit) Denmark.

But come Christmas season, which starts pretty much as the clock strikes 1 November, until the 24th of December, when the big fat man visits (Julemanden as he’s called in Denmark), a whole new world of delectable goodness opens.

If this is your first Christmas in Denmark, or if you’re visiting during the Christmas season, then thank goodness you found this list. I’m about to make your Christmas in Denmark more mouth watering than you thought possible and I’m pretty sure you’ll thank me for introducing you to 3 of the best things to eat in Denmark at Christmas.

First up, Æbleskiver

Æbleskiver - best served in threes with jam and icing sugar to ‘dunk’ in

Loosely translated to apple slices (of which the modern-day versions actually have none), these are doughy balls of pure goodness served with raspberry jam and icing sugar. ALWAYS served in threes. Three. Don’t forget this magic number and if faced with a giant bowl of these at your work party (or another social occasion) only put 3 on your plate (at a time), and you’ll be sure to blend in a like a local. Repeat visits to the serving bowl are totally acceptable.

For those not lucky enough to be served these at work or at another social occasion, then you can hunt them out at one of the many Christmas markets that happen throughout the country at this time of the year such as the Christmas market at Kongens Nytorv.

Alternatively, you can also find big bags of frozen Æbleskiver at Danish supermarkets. The quality is far less than homemade ones, but in desperate times, and until you meet a Dane that can cook you some, it’s still a good option.

One of the best Christmas traditions in Denmark is aebleskiver. A cross between a pancake and a doughnut, served in threes and dunked in raspberry jam and icing sugar. Absolutely delicious.

Æbleskiver – so good, you’ll wonder why the heck the Danes only eat them once a year.

Coming in second place, Flæskestegs sandwich

Maybe not your classic Danish Christmas food in a traditional sense – but, every year when the small Christmas markets start to pop up around Copenhagen you’ll find at least one food stall selling this magnificent concoction.

And for approximately 6 weeks during the Christmas season, I’m lucky enough to have one of these little stalls open up right across from my work. It’s impossible to resist and every Friday, like clockwork, I’ll visit the stall for my weekly fix. Sometimes with a colleague or friend, but otherwise I’ll go by myself for a solitary moment of roast pork perfection.

Costing only 60kr (that’s a bargain in Danish standards) you can expect this:

1. White bread bun

2. Roast pork (that’s the Flæskestegs bit) WITH the crackling on. Cracking is THE golden ticket.

3. Gherkins

4. Rodkål (pickled red cabbage….totally tastes better than what it sounds)

I ate my first Flæskestegs sandwich for the season yesterday and it was delicious. Although I noticed a visitor to Copenhagen (who was behind me in the queue) become confused with the word Flæskestegs sandwich and went into safety mode ordering the beef sandwich instead. I felt major food regret on his behalf. Don’t be like this man. Ignore your safety mode switch and embrace the Flæskestegs sandwich . If you talk fast and mumble a bit just try and say it like ‘flisk a sty’ , and you should end up with the right thing. Or they might think you’ve got a Kiwi accent. Let me know.

And finishing off the top 3, let me introduce you to Risengrød

Rice porridge. I know. It aint sexy sounding, but trust me on this one and keep reading. After you whack a (large) dollop of butter on the top and then sprinkle sugar and cinnamon on the top, you won’t care what it’s called. You’ll just be looking for more.

And again, just like with æbleskiver, this one is best eaten if made and served by a Dane. So try your hardest to be adopted by a Dane if you can, if even just for the Christmas season, or learn how to make it yourself, which basically involves boiling rice in milk without burning the bottom of the pot. The last part being what I continually fail at which results in The Dane being the only one allowed to make it in our house. Otherwise, you can buy it ready-made at the supermarket.

So loosen your belt (even better, get rid of it), put away your scales, grab on your comfy (elastic waist all the way) trousers and try my top 3 Danish Christmas foods.