10 Must-Try Foods in Denmark: What to eat when you visit
European Diary ◆ 21 August 2024
Explore the 10 must-try foods in Denmark, from classic Smørrebrød to sweet Drømmekage. Find out what Danish dishes you can’t miss!
The name Denmark is known for its beautiful terrains and rich history, as well as its lively food culture. One cannot go to Denmark without experiencing its unique food services. Hearty traditional meals or delicious pastries, Denmark cuisine takes you on a journey like none other. In this blog, we will describe 10 must-eat foods in Denmark that capture the Danish culture and tradition. Get ready for delicious treats that will satisfy you and also introduce you to Denmark’s culinary heritage as you embark on your journey. Consequently, let us guide you into a tasty world all about Denmark!
1. Smørrebrød
1 of 10 must-try foods in Denmark
- Toppings: Herring, horseradish, gherkins.
- Bread: Dense, dark rye.
- Flavor Profile: Tangy and hearty.
- Variations: Includes vegetarian options like beef tartare.
- Availability: Found throughout Denmark.
The most famous Danish food is, of course, Smørrebrød. The most iconic Smørrebrød, I think, has herring on it, some horseradish, and some gherkins. It is, of course, on that really dark rye bread, which gives it that Smørrebrød vibe because that’s what you need. It’s an open-faced sandwich with a lot of herring on it—a thick slice—and the dark brown rye bread, where you can see the grains in it. You’ll find the radish, and some mayo there.
It has a lovely sourness that goes so well with the herring and the dark rye bread. You may find Smørrebrød really nice. There’s also a vegetarian version; you may try one with beef tartare, which was stunning. You can get Smørrebrød everywhere in Denmark.
2. Drømmekage
2 of 10 must-try foods in Denmark
- Description: Famous Danish cake known as “Dream Cake,” also available as a cupcake.
- Flavors: Coconut and caramel, with a touch of chocolate.
- Cakey Version: Dense and sugary; a little goes a long way.
- Cupcake Version: Light and airy.
- Texture: Cakey version is thick and substantial; cupcake is delicate.
- Enjoyment: Both versions offer delightful flavors, with the cake being rich and the cupcake airy.
Whenever you are abroad, you have to visit the bakery because, at a bakery, they sell the good stuff. This is the first thing you will have to try here because it’s one of the most famous Danish pastries you can get here, and it’s Drømmekage, translated as a dream cake. This treat also comes in a cupcake version.
First, The flavors that you may notice from the cupcake are coconut and caramel. In a cakey version, this is very dense. However, The cupcake is light and airy. This dream cake is very sugary and caramel; the coconut here is much more evident than in the cupcake. It is very dense, which means that you only need a small piece to fill yourself up. You have to be careful—it’s pretty thick but a nice and hard cake.
Moreover, I have to say that you may also love the airiness of the cupcake version of Drømmekage. So I think you could go either way, and you’ll fall in love with the flavors because the combination of caramel and coconut with a little bit of chocolate is really good.
3. Kanelsnegl
3 of 10 must-try foods in Denmark
- Description: Danish pastry also known as “Cinnamon Snail.”
- Texture: Sticky, moist, and often sticks to the plate.
- Flavor: Rich cinnamon taste with a sweet, gooey filling.
- Enjoyment: A deliciously messy treat that’s a must-try in Denmark.
I have another amazing Danish pastry, the Kanelsnegl, which means cinnamon snail. It looks better than it sounds. It’s sticky; it sticks to the plate, so you may not even pick it up from the plate. There’s a lot of stuff on there. It’s sticky, very nice and moist, and has a nice cinnamon flavor. Try the Kanelsnegl in Denmark.
4. Stegt Flæsk
4 of 10 must-try foods in Denmark
- Description: Denmark’s national dish, featuring crispy pork belly with boiled potatoes.
- Main Ingredients: Thick bacon slices, boiled potatoes, parsley sauce.
- Texture: Crispy pork with a creamy, parsley-infused sauce.
- Flavor Profile: Mild, allowing the pork to be the star of the dish.
- Serving Size: Hearty portion, often enough to feed two.
- Enjoyment: A classic Danish experience, best enjoyed in a restaurant.
Here, I’m describing the national dish of Denmark, called Stegt Flæsk, translated as meat and potatoes. So, you may have boiled potatoes and a lot of meat—those bacon, thick bacon slices of pork, crispy pork—and you get it with a parsley sauce. Visually, It looks really good. You may love this type of meat.
Firstly, Stegt Flæsk has a lot of meat; I have to say, for one person—crazy, this could have easily fed two people. Moreover, It’s very crispy and also very nice. You may also like the sauce because it’s like a cream sauce but with a bit of parsley in it. It’s just a nice addition to the meat and will go very well with the boiled potatoes.
But it doesn’t have a lot of intense flavor, so the meat is the star of the dish. This could easily also be a nice traditional Dutch dish. In conclusion, make sure to try the Stegt Flæsk because it is the iconic Danish dish you must try in a restaurant.
5. Wienerbrød
5 of 10 must-try foods in Denmark
- Texture: Puff pastry that is sweet and flaky.
- Flavors: Options range from sweet cream and chocolate to cinnamon and sugar.
- Appearance: Similar to a cinnamon bun but with a unique, charming texture.
- Enjoyment: A delightful treat that many prefer over traditional cinnamon buns.
One of the most famous things you can get in a bakery is Wienerbrød, which has different types. For example, you may have one with cream and chocolate. It’s like a bit of puff pastry; you may also have the most classic one that has cinnamon and sugar. It almost looks like a cinnamon bun, but this looks good.
It is a puff pastry, but it’s a bit sweeter. The combination of sugar and cinnamon are nice. Overall, I think I might prefer this over a cinnamon bun because the dough’s texture and flavor are charming.
6. Rugbrøds Snacks
6 of 10 must-try foods in Denmark
- Flavors: Sour cream and onion.
- Texture: Thin, super crunchy with a dark, dense rye bread base.
- Appearance: Dark with a white seasoning layer on top.
- Taste: Rich, with a delicious sour cream flavor and a strong, roasted rye aftertaste.
- Enjoyment: Excellent on its own or paired with dips like sour cream or cream cheese.
Something you can do on vacation is go to a local supermarket because you can find the most amazing things there that you don’t have in your home country. One such discovery is Rugbrøds Snacks, that is always like the basis of the Smørrebrød; it’s that super dark, thin slice of rye bread that is super dense with many seeds in there, and now they have a snack version.
This one comes with sour cream and onion flavor and looks cool. Visually, it looks super dark, like rye bread, but it’s thin and super crunchy, and there’s a white layer on it, so that’s probably the sour cream and onion seasoning.
It’s nice; the sour cream flavor is delicious, but you can still taste it as rye bread because, especially in the aftertaste, it’s pretty strong and almost a bit bitter because it’s so roasted, and the bread is so dark. Overall, it’s fantastic. I could also probably recommend you dip it in sour cream, cream cheese, or something nice.
7. Danish Hotdog
7 of 10 must-try foods in Denmark
- Flavor Profile: Slightly sweet with spices like nutmeg; excellent quality sausage with a crunchy exterior.
- Toppings: Fried onions, raw onions, pickles, mustard, and ketchup.
- Experience: A flavorful and satisfying street food essential to try while in Denmark.
Danish hotdogs are super popular, and they have these hotdog vendors outside in the streets everywhere. What makes a Danish hotdog unique? They use different spices in the hotdog, like nutmeg and everything, so it’s a bit sweeter, and the sausages are supposed to be excellent quality. That is a really good sausage—nicely spiced, with a nice crunch on the outside.
It has fried onions, raw onions, pickles, mustard, and ketchup sauce. This is nice—get your hands on a Danish hotdog.
8. Danbo Cheese
8 of 10 must-try foods in Denmark
- Description: Classic Danish cheese, resembling a square version of Emmentaler.
- Texture: Creamy and almost melts in your mouth.
- Flavor: Strong, rich, and slightly similar to Gouda.
This is the typical Danish cheese and the absolute most standard Danish cheese you can find—the Danbo. For instance, it looks like a square version of Emmentaler or something. Additionally, it smells a bit like a Gouda cheese; the consistency is a little bit like a Gouda and Emmentaler or something, but it has a strong, rich flavor and is really creamy as well—it almost melts in your mouth.
Moreover, you can also find something else, typically food from the island. Specifically, it is Fynsk Rygeost, smoked cheese spread, in a cup or something in the pot. You can smell its smokiness, and it also smells like Polish or Russian smoked cheese, which you can pull in threads. In particular, this smells so familiar, but it’s kind of spread cheese, but a little more crumbly.
9. Danish Licorice
9 of 10 must-try foods in Denmark
- Flavors: A blend of salty licorice with subtle hints of chili and pepper.
- Texture: Slightly soft with a chewy consistency.
- Taste: Sweet with a hint of licorice and a mild, not overpowering, chili flavor.
You can find these hard candies from the Danish supermarket, and they’re like a combination of licorice and fruity flavors. Those are mainly in the candy section but in the licorice section because we are addicted to licorice.
Among these, you’ll find those licorice candies with chili and pepper. It’s a little soft still; it’s also more like a salty licorice and sweet a little, so it’s not too extravagant. It tastes nice but doesn’t taste like chili, but a little flavor is coming—not too strong.
10. Ice Cream with Licorice Sprinkles
10 of 10 must-try foods in Denmark
- Texture: Smooth and creamy ice cream that melts quickly.
- Taste: A delightful mix of sweet ice cream with the distinctive flavor of licorice.
- Experience: An amazing and refreshing treat that may be new to many, providing a memorable taste sensation.
In Denmark, you will find something—soft ice cream with licorice sprinkles—that is like a complete epiphany and revelation. It’s possible that you have never seen or had it before, but it was amazing. The ice on it melts so fast—it can be so fast that you can’t keep up, but you’ll find it still amazing.
Bonus:
1. Brunsviger Cake: This is a traditional Danish snack. It is a brown sugar cake with amazing caramelized, almost burnt sugar.
2. Pølsehorn: It is a simple but tasty bread with a hotdog inside. A popular snack or quick meal, often enjoyed warm from the bakery.
3. Rumkugeln: Next, a Rumkugeln, which is a rum-filled chocolate, very dense ball—beware, it’s very filling.
4. Fløderboller: Then we have Fløderboller, those chocolate kisses filled with white, almost meringue—you can have them in many countries, but Denmark is known for them as well.
Conclusion
Living through Danish cuisine means expanding the list of tasty and diverse meals that reveal the specifics of the country’s culinary traditions. Indeed, this list of 10 foods you have to eat in Denmark includes classics such as Smørrebrød as well as desserts like Drømmekage and Kanelsnegl.
Furthermore, with Stegt Flæsk and Wienerbrød as the national dishes, your palate will take a great tour through Denmark’s Rugbrøds Snacks and Danish hotdogs. Thus, by enjoying the following favorite top 10 must-taste foods in Denmark during your travel, you can taste the true undiscovered pleasures of Danish meals. Visit Danish Website!
