Anyone who was paying attention to the hygge trend of the last few years knows that it’s about Scandinavia, about comfort, and about baked treats. Part of the tradition is a prolonged coffee break each day with delicious treats, a chance to put work aside and spend quality time with coworkers over something tasty. If you were ever interested in baking those treats, then this is the cookbook you’ve been looking for,.

Modern Scandinavian Baking is a collection of tasty recipes from the countries of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden from a woman who learned these dishes from her her Norwegian family and through extensive studying of the culture and hospitality of the region. From her expertise and her experience, she brings us the tastes of savory and sweet baking projects that may pair exceptionally well with hot drinks and snowy days but can be enjoyed any day of the year.

There are recipes for breads, like Classic Rye or Seeded Crispbread and savory bakes like Spiced Pork Sausage Rolls or Mushroom and Cheese Quiche. There are coffee breads and pastries, like Cinnamon and Cardamon Twists, Doughnutty Pancake Puffs, Chocolate-Cloaked Blueberry Marshmallow Puffs, and Flaky Poppy-Seed and Almond Pastries. There are cakes, like the Lemon-Flecked Sunshine Cake, Strawberry-and-Cream Layer Cake, Chocolate- and Vanilla-Swirled Tiger Cake, Fudgy Chocolate Cake, and Anna-Lisa’s Cheesecake. And finally, there are cookies. Vanilla-Flecked Butter Wreath Cookies, Delicate Almond Macaroons, Salted Chocolate and Rye Cookie Slices, Raspberry-Filled Almond Cups, Lacy Oat Cookies, and even Dad’s Chocolate Rum Truffles.

If you don’t know much about Scandinavian baking, this is a great place to start. Author and blogger Daytona Strong gives you all the help you’ll need to get started with these recipes. She talks about the ingredients that are featured in Scandinavian baking as well as the tools you’ll need to help you find success. She explains the techniques and gives cultural information for the pastries. Each recipe is noted with a flag for the country it comes from (don’t worry—there’s a key, for those of us who are not great with geography), and many recipes are tagged gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, egg-free, vegetarian, or vegan, for those with food sensitivities or special diets.

Modern Scandinavian Baking is a beautiful introduction to the baked delicacies of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. With beautiful photos and inspiring personal stories, this cookbook will help you make comforting treats for family and friends with flavor, warmth, and heart.

A copy of Modern Scandinavian Baking was provided by Rockridge Press through the Callisto Media Publisher’s Club, with many thanks.