Fika and Hygge – Comforting cakes and bakes from Scandinavia with love

With a new year also comes a new book tip of the month of course! I’ve gone for something out of my comfort zone and into a food world that I’m really not familiar with: the Scandinavian kitchen! You may have heard of the Danish word ‘Hygge’ lately as it’s becoming quite popular online and especially in books, newpspapers and shops. Haven’t heard about it yet? Visit Denmark tries to clarify what it means: “Hard to explain and even harder to pronounce, the Danish word ‘hygge’ (pronounced ‘hooga’) translates roughly to ‘cosiness’. It may be hard to say, but that hasn’t stopped people finding out that hygge might be a recipe for a happier life.”

But a similar way of life can found in Sweden for example, where they have the word ‘Fika’ (find out what it means here). It seems to me that Scandinavians have somehow mastered the art of living the good life, so surely they must have great food as well? Well thanks to Brontë Aurell you can now find out what the Scandinavian kitchen has to offer in terms of baking!

It’s the second book for Brontë, and it features over 60 recipes for cakes, bakes and treats from all over Scandinavia. From indulgent cream confections to homely and comforting fruit cakes and traditional breads, sweet buns and pastries.

It’s an absolutely stunning cook book, with fantastic recipes! When I showed it to my Swedish colleague he was over the moon with a few to see some of his own favourite Swedish treats featured in the book. As a bonus for US foodies you can find both Metric and imperial and US Cups measurements are included in each recipe so you can enjoy the Scandinavian cuisine too!

Apart from gorgeous tasty recipes, the book also features a few inspiring quotes and photos from Scandinavia, which will surely make you want to travel there. It’s always been quite high up on my list to visit Sweden and Norway, especially after seeing the photos my parents took on their trip through Norway!

Ingenting – Nothing Biscuits by Brontë Aurell

Kanelbullar – Cinnamon Buns by Brontë Aurell

Book description
A follow-up to the successful ‘The ScandiKitchen’ (published September 2015), this new book from Brontë Aurell features over 60 recipes for cakes, bakes, and treats from all over Scandinavia. From indulgent cream confections to homely and comforting fruit cakes and traditional breads, sweet buns, and pastries.

‘FIKA’ is a Swedish word meaning to meet up for a cup of coffee or tea over something delicious. It is also the word for the delicious treats themselves. Swedes traditionally stop twice a day for fika: taking a much-needed break from the daily grind. People fika with family, colleagues, friends, children, and even go on fika dates. ‘HYGGE’ (pronounced hue-guh) is a word that originated in Norway but is now mainly used in Denmark. It means “a sublime state of cosiness you feel when you are with loved ones and nothing else matters”. Hygge can be enhanced by the addition of a log fire, a good movie, a cup of something warm, and a sweet treat…hence the ideal combination of the two terms.

Chapters are divided into Biscuits and Cookies, Tray and No bakes, Everyday Fika, Little Fancy Cakes, Celebration Cakes, and Bread and Batters. This beautifully illustrated, authentic guide is a celebration of Scandinavian baking in all its glory. It is evocative of cosy days shared with friends, slowing down and taking the time to enjoy simple, homemade, wholesome pleasures—encouraging a lifestyle to aspire to. With features on special Scandi winter celebrations, their baking traditions and how to bring fika and hygge into your life.

Saffran och päronkaka – Saffron Bundt Cake with Pears by Brontë Aurell

About the Author

Brontë Aurell is a Danish entrepreneur, restaurateur and cook. Together with her Swedish husband Jonas, she runs the acclaimed ScandiKitchen Café and shop in central London. The cafe was set up in 2007 – because her partner Jonas and herself missed food from their homes in Scandinavia. They wanted to create a place where expats could find the foods they missed from home and where everybody felt welcome to pop by and enjoy some nice open sandwiches, cakes and coffee.

A keen cook herself, Bronte has been published widely in national magazines and newspapers, including The Guardian, The Times, Sunday Express, Olive, HELLO! and the Evening Standard’s ES Magazine. Brontë and her food have also featured on BBC Radio and Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch. She lives in London with Jonas and their two young daughters.

“We love our little cafe and warehouse and we’re super proud to have published our first book, ScandiKitchen, in September 2015. We wanted to write a book with really simple Scandinavian dishes – the way we cook them at home. No fancy stuff – just honest food – good food, with love, from Scandinavia. Our new book, Fika & Hygge, is all about treats and nice comforting bakes. the kind of cakes our mums and grandmothers used to bake all the time – the stuff that Scandinavian childhood memories are made of. Do pop by and say ‘hej’ if you are ever in London.”

Book information
Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: Ryland Peters & Small
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1849757593
ISBN-13: 978-1849757591

You can buy this book on Amazon UK, Amazon US or Amazon DE
Have a look at my Facebook page for a chance to win your own copy of Fika and Hygge – Comforting cakes and bakes from Scandinavia with love!

Biskvier – Sarah Bernhard cakes by Brontë Aurell