This is a list of notable Icelandic sweets and desserts. The cuisine of Iceland refers to food preparation originating from Iceland or having played a great historic part in Icelandic cuisine. Iceland also shares many dishes and influences with surrounding Scandinavian countries, such as Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
Due to Nordic settlements in Iceland during the 9th century, Scandinavia has a heavy influence in Icelandic cuisine.[1] The earliest published Icelandic cookbooks were collections of Danish recipes brought by Danish bakers and traders—many of which still hold up in Icelandic dining today.
The climate of Iceland is harsh and frigid, therefore the culture relies heavily on animal products rather than large-scale crop farming. This is reflected in their desserts, as most dishes, such as skyr and súkkulaði, feature a dairy component. This is also reflected in the fruits used in dessert preparation, as only fruits that can grow in such a climate can be featured, such as crowberries, blueberries, and rhubarb. While cereals and grains are used in dishes, they are mainly created using imported grains, and therefore have become more popular as trade in Iceland has improved.[2]
See also: Icelandic cuisine.
| Name | Image | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Kleina | Sweetened fried rolls cut into a trapezoidal shape using a kleinujárn | |
| Ástarpungar | Translates to "love balls"—fried dough balls filled with raisins and cardamom | |
| Hjónabandsæla | Lattice pastry interwoven with a thick, blueberry paste[3] | |
| Aðalbláber og Rjómi | Blueberries with cream and sugar | |
| Nammi | Bulk confectionary, otherwise known as pick n' mix | |
| Ís | Icelandic ice cream, usually served in different flavors | |
| Bragðarefur | Mixture of ice cream and multiple toppings | |
| Snúður | Cinnamon roll topped with melted chocolate | |
| Skúffukaka | Thin chocolate cake topped with melted chocolate and shredded coconut | |
| Randalín | Layer cake with different portions of sponge cake, icing, and jam[4] | |
| Vínarterta | A type of randalin with layers of plums | |
| Laufabrauð | Thin fried pastry with cut designs | |
| Jólagrautur | Rice pudding topped with raisins, cinnamon, and sugar, typically served during Christmas | |
| Piparkökur | Glazed ginger cookies | |
| Icelandic cheescake | Cheesecake made with skyr | |
| Lakkrístoppar | Meringue cookies filled with chocolate and liquorice | |
| Hjónabandssæla (Marriage Cake) | Cake made with base of oatmeal and flour, filled with rhubarb jam | |
| Möndlukaka | Almond cake with strawberry jam | |
| Ábrystir | Cream pudding made from colostrum | |
| Kakósúpa | Chocolate soup made from milk, dark chocolate, cinnamon, and potato scratch, served warm | |
| Rúlluterta | a rolled cake filled with buttercream | |
| Pönnukökur | Crépe-like pancakes dusted with sugar | |
| Vínarbrauð | Long, flaky pastry, occasionally iced or topped with nuts | |