Swedish Sockerkaka (Simple Vanilla Cake)
The Swedish sockerkaka (simple vanilla cake) is the perfect addition to your baking rotation. Enjoy it with a cup of coffee, or serve it for dessert with fruit and whipped cream.
What is that fabulous aroma coming from the kitchen? It’s a Swedish sockerkaka in the oven! This classic, simple vanilla cake is an essential in the Swedish “fika” lineup. (Fika is the Swedish tradition of taking a break to enjoy coffee or tea and a little something to eat.)
What is sockerkaka?
Sockerkaka is the Swedish word for a simple Swedish cake. “Socker” means “sugar” in Swedish, and “kaka” means cake or cookie. This vanilla cake sockerkaka is routinely served with coffee but can also be served as part of the after-school snack with a glass of milk and a banana or dressed up with whipped cream and berries for a classic Swedish birthday cake.
There are many flavoring variations of the sockerkaka; for example, you could make it cardamom, lemon, gingerbread, or chocolate. You could also increase the volume of batter and cook it in a Bundt form.
Is Swedish sockerkaka healthy?
As a dietitian who takes an intuitive eating approach to nutrition, I feel it’s important not to get caught up in labeling foods as healthy or unhealthy. All foods can fit as part of a balanced diet, and while nutrition is important, so is the eating experience. Eating can provide an opportunity for pleasure, social connection, cultural connection, and mindfulness. These factors can all promote well-being!
This is a cake, and it’s meant to be enjoyed and savored as a cake. That said, like many Swedish recipes, you will notice the cake size is smaller than most classic American cakes. Swedish sockerkaka is also pretty fuss-free in that no frosting is usually involved.
Ingredients needed to make Swedish sockerkaka
Basic sockerkaka ingredients:
- All-purpose flour (AP flour)
- Almond flour (you can use all AP flour; this is what most Swedish cakes call for, but it becomes extra moist and flavorful with the addition of almond flour)
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Butter
- Milk – you could use non-dairy milk or even water, but I prefer to use regular dairy milk, usually 2%
- Vanilla extract – Swedes use vanilla sugar, but that can be hard to find in the US
- Baking powder
- Salt – many Swedish recipes omit salt, but my theory is that this is because they traditionally used salted butter; I find that a pinch of salt brings out the flavor, so unless you are using salted butter, I would add it.
Popular variation:
- Cardamom cake– you could add two teaspoons of cardamom instead of the vanilla for a classic Swedish twist to this cake that will also make your house smell dreamy; for the best flavor, buy cardamom pods and grind them in a spice grinder or with a mortar and pestle, but pre-ground cardamom is still delicious (I always have pre-ground on hand and use it often!)
Family culture and traditions
It’s safe to say that I adore Swedish culture. Baking and having fika are especially meaningful to me. I have my mom to thank for this love. My childhood was filled with delectable Swedish baked goods and cozy fika breaks. I’m also so thankful to have two sisters who love to bake; sharing our baking endeavors helps keep the energy going. Just this week, my sister Anna called to remark on the wonders of a simple sockerkaka. It’s true; it’s such a simple, humble little cake, but it carries the magic and the fact that it’s so easy to make even better!
So, thank you to Anna for inspiring this post. When she made her sockerkaka earlier this week, she subbed out some of the AP flour for almond flour, and I just had to try it myself! Coincidently, the recipe we both used comes from the 1991 edition of the Swedish cookbook “Annas mat” by Anna Bergenstrom.
And thank you to my extended family for inspiring me to continue this Swedish baking and fika tradition. (It helps that my husband and boys are always excited to taste test!)
PS – If you needed a reminder of why food is about more than nutrition, now you have it! Enjoy your cake with love not guilt and remember that all foods fit. ♡
Other Posts You Might Enjoy
Other Recipes You Might Enjoy
- Swedish Cardamom Buns
- Cardamom Oat Muffins
- Whole Grain Swedish Pancakes
- Swedish Semlor (Cardamom Buns with Almond Paste and Whipped Cream)
- Simple Almond Snack Cake
Swedish Sockerkaka (Simple Vanilla Cake)
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter plus extra for greasing cake pan
- ⅓ cup milk
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour plus extra for greasing cake pan
- ½ cup almond flour (or use all all-purpose)
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉.
- Butter and flour a 9-inch cake pan. (Or use cooking spray). A spring form cake pan makes it easy to release the cake when done.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Then add milk and heat until it starts to simmer. Remove from heat.
- Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, beat together the eggs and sugar with an electric whisk until light and fluffy. Then, mix in vanilla.
- In another bowl, combine the flour, almond flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Fold the butter-milk mixture into the egg-sugar mixture. Then stir in the flour mixture, mixing just to combine.
- Pour the batter into the prepare cake pan and bake for 28-35 minutes. The cake is done when lightly browned, pulling away from the edges, and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool a bit and then transfer to a plate or simply remove sides if using a spring-form. Top with powdered sugar if desired before serving. Enjoy!
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