Dessert

Dansk æblekage

Despite its name, Danish æblekage is not baked. Instead, tart apple compote, sweet crumbs toasted in butter and whipped cream are layered – most beautifully in a glass bowl or individual glasses.

Danish apple dessert in a stemmed glass with layers of apple compote, toasted crumbs and cream
Photo: Nillerdk / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
Preparation
30 min
Cooking/baking time
20 minplus 1 h resting time
Servings
4–6 people
Difficulty
Easy

Ingredients

Apple compote

Crumbs

For layering

Method

  1. Peel, core and chop the apples. Cook them covered with the sugar, vanilla seeds and water until soft, then mash roughly. Leave to cool.
  2. Melt the butter in a frying pan, add the crumbs and sugar and toast until golden, stirring constantly. Leave to cool on a plate.
  3. Whip the cream.
  4. Layer apple compote and crumbs alternately in a glass bowl or in glasses, finishing with a layer of compote.
  5. Chill for at least an hour so the layers can settle.
  6. Just before serving, cover with whipped cream and garnish with redcurrant jelly.

The story behind the dish

Æblekage literally means “apple cake”, but it is a layered dessert. It is one of the classic Danish desserts, and almost every family has its own version – with breadcrumbs, macaroons or both.

Enjoy it at Dansk Cottage

In autumn, when there are apples everywhere on Ærø, æblekage is our dessert of choice. It can easily be made in the afternoon and wait in the fridge until the evening begins.

The cottage kitchen · Discover Søby · Experience Ærø

More recipes

All recipes

In the mood for Denmark?

Dansk Cottage in Søby can be booked from spring 2027 – with a spacious kitchen for exactly this kind of dish.

Discover Dansk Cottage Rates & booking
Questions about the cottage? Message us 💬