Finnish Cakes Recipes

FINNISH CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cream together the butter, 1/4 cup of the sugar and almond extract. Stir in the flour. Chill for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
• Place the dough between 2 large sheets of plastic wrap. Use a rolling pin to roll into a 1/4-inch thick rectangle. Use a sharp knife to cut the dough into strips 2 1/2 inches long and 3/4 inch wide.
• Combine the remaining tablespoon of sugar with the almonds. Use a pastry brush to coat the top of the cookies with egg white. Sprinkle with the almond and sugar mixture. Carefully transfer cookies to an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake to a delicate brown, 17 to 20 minutes.
• Transfer cookies to a rack to cool. Cookies can be frozen in an airtight container, with wax paper between each layer for up to 6 months. Defrost 30 minutes before serving.

FINNISH DATE CAKE (TAATELIKAKKU)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 150°C.
• Grease and flour a loaf pan.
• Place dates, water and butter in a saucepan, bring to boil and simmer for about 20 minutes (I like to break down the dates a bit for smoother jam). Let cool.
• Pour date mixture into a mixing bowl, add sugar and beat until light and fluffy.
• Add egg, mix well.
• Sift together flour, baking powder and vanilla sugar. Add flour mixture and cream alternately to the mix.
• Pour into the prepared pan and bake for about 75 minutes.

KERMAKAKKU (FINNISH SOUR CREAM CAKE)

Steps:

• Cream the eggs, sugar, sour cream, almond, and ground cardamom.
• Sift together the flour, salt, soda, cinnamon and mix with egg mixture.
• Butter a tube or Bundt pan and sprinkle with granulated sugar.
• Pour batter into pan.
• Bake at 350° for 1hour or until toothpick comes out clean.
• Cool before removing from pan.
• Sprinkle turned out cake with powdered sugar.