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"Home" » Nordic Dessert

Danish Brunsviger Cake

Published: Dec 8, 2018 · Modified: May 4, 2022 · About 5 minutes to read this article. · By Kim Nielsen

Traditional recipe for Danish Brunsviger cake. This cake is based on a soft and moist dough with a delicious brown sugar topping. So delicious and easy-to-make.
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Recipe for Danish Brunsviger Cake

Recipe for Danish Brunsviger Cake

This recipe for traditional Danish Brunsviger Cake is easy to make and perfect if you are looking for an old-fashioned and classic Danish cake.

The Danish word Brunsviger cannot be translated into English but the meaning is well known by a Dane. The Brunsviger Cake is a delicious yeast dough cake topped with plenty of delicious butter and brown sugar mixture.

See also: Traditional recipe for Danish Dagmar tart

On this page I will show you how easy it is to make a Danish Brunsviger Cake and share a couple of tricks to avoid the common mistakes. Continue reading and learn how easy it is.

The history of Brunsviger Cake

The Brunsviger can be purchased from every pastry shop in Denmark but it is originally from Fyn which is the central part of Denmark. It is unknown when this cake was made and served the first time but it has for sure been around for generations. Today, it is well-known by almost all Danish people and is a very popular cake.

Recipe for Danish Brunsviger Cake

Traditional Brunsviger or Birthday Brunsviger

The traditional Danish Brunsviger is baked in a square pan and then later cut and served in smaller pieces. This is the classic way of making this cake. At some point in history somebody have developed this recipe and made this traditional cake into a birthday cake which is in Danish known as a Kagemand (Cake man). A Brunsviger birthday cake is easy made. You simply just make a traditional Brunsviger cake and then decorate it with all kinds of your favorite candy like wine-gum, M&M and so on.

See also: Recipe for traditional Danish Birthday Cake

The recipe is exactly the same as the traditional recipe shown further down on this page. However, the birthday version of this cake is not squared anymore instead it is shaped like a man or a woman depending on the gender of the person whose birthday it is.

Recipe for Danish Brunsviger Cake

Brunsviger made in square oven plate

The traditional Brunsviger is made in a square oven plate like I have done. However, it can also be made in a circular springform cake tin or whatever cake tins you have. The result will still be a delicious cake. The traditional cake is square but a circular cake is also fine - it is up to you.

Tips when making the Brunsviger cake

As already said, it is actually really easy to make a Brusviger cake. I just have a couple of tips that I would like to share with you. The first tip; in step seven in the recipe, we are going to make indentations in the dough. In these indentations we are going to add the butter-sugar mixture. It is important that these indentations deep but does not break through the bottom of the dough. We want deep indentation so that they can be filled with plenty of sugar mixture.

See also: Recipe for Danish Cinnamon Twist (Kanalstang)

The second tip is closely related to the first. It is a good idea to make a moat along the edge of the dough. The moat will help keep the butter-sugar mixture on the top of the cake. Otherwise, it will run away and sugar coat the inside of your oven. This can be a little tricky. I have personally sugar coated my oven several times.

Recipe for Danish Brunsviger Cake

Danish Brunsviger Cake

Traditional recipe for Danish Brunsviger cake. This cake is based on a soft and moist dough with a delicious brown sugar topping. So delicious and easy-to-make.
Print Recipe Rate Recipe
Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour hour
Total Time: 1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes
Course: Cake
Cuisine: Danish
Keyword: Danish dessert
Servings: 8 people
Author: NordicFoodLiving.com

Ingredients

Metric - US Customary

Brunsviger Dough

  • 3 dl milk (lukewarm)
  • 50 g fresh yeast (or equivalent dry yeast)
  • 50 g sugar
  • 100 g butter (melted and cooled)
  • 500 g all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Sugar topping

  • 150 g butter
  • 250 g brown sugar
  • 4 tbsp heavy cream (alternativ milk)
  • 3 tbsp vanilla cake creme powder (optional)

Instructions

  • Dissolve the fresh yeast and sugar in the lukewarm milk.
  • Melt the butter and let it cool off before adding it to the milk.
  • Add all-purpose flour and salt. Knead the dough for about 10 minutes or until it assemblies into a nice and smooth dough. You can with advantage use a kitchen machine.
  • Cover the bowl with a clean dish towel and let the dough rise into double size someplace warm. This takes about 30 minutes.
  • Flatten the dough into a square with a size of about 40 x 40 cm (16 x 16 inch). Transfer the dough onto a parchment paper covered oven plate. Let the dough rise for another 20 minutes. While the dough is rising prepare the sugar topping.
  • In a small sauce pan; melt the butter and brown sugar. When the butter-sugar mixture is hot add the heavy cream and mix it together. Remove the mixture from the heat and let it cool off.
  • Use your fingers to make indents into the dough. The indents should be deep and almost reach the bottom but without breaking through the dough. Also, make a small moat along the edge of the dough to keep the sugar topping on the top.
  • Distribute the prepared sugar topping across the dough and bake the cake for 12 minutes in a 225 C (440 F) well-preheated oven.
  • Let the cake cook off a little bit before serving it.

Recipe for Danish Brunsviger Cake

Recipe for Danish Brunsviger Cake

Recipe for Danish Brunsviger Cake

Recipe for Danish Brunsviger Cake

Recipe for Danish Brunsviger Cake

Recipe for Danish Brunsviger Cake

Recipe for Danish Brunsviger Cake

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sophie

    May 02, 2020 at 11:44 am

    5 stars
    Just making this recipe but I noticed that you mention cream in the instructions but not in the ingredient list! I'm going to go ahead and make it without as I don't have any but just wanted to let you know! The dough instructions are awesome! It looks super good so far! Can't wait to taste it!

    Reply
    • Kim Nielsen

      May 04, 2020 at 7:21 am

      I happy that you like the recipe and THANKS for letting me know about the small mistake in the recipe for Danish brunsviger. I was missing the cream in the ingredients list. However, you can also make the topping without cream so no problem if you already made it without. Regards Kim (NordicFoodLiving.com)

      Reply
      • Lisa

        July 31, 2023 at 12:23 pm

        4 stars
        Just made Brunsviger and used cream. Didn’t look as dark as picture and didn’t stay on top. Dough was amazing texture. My uncle had a bakery in Aalborg and his recipe was without cream but couldn’t use his recipe quantities not right. Love your recipes

        Reply
  2. Charlotte Trotman

    May 10, 2020 at 6:37 pm

    5 stars
    Perfect! I used to run to the kiosk in Nyborg to buy slices of these for breakfast. Brought back memories. Great recipe and the dough is a perfect bake. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Kim Nielsen

      May 11, 2020 at 5:51 am

      You are welcome - I am happy that you like the recipe for brunsviger - it is a real Danish cake :-) Regards Kim (NordicFoodLiving.com)

      Reply
  3. Linda

    May 21, 2020 at 6:31 pm

    Hi Kim,

    I noticed that step 3 says to add the salt, but no measurement is given for salt in the ingredients list. I took a guess, but am wondering what the quantity should be. Thank you so much—I enjoy your recipes!

    Reply
  4. John

    May 03, 2022 at 4:52 pm

    How much salt is to be used?

    Reply
    • Kim Nielsen

      May 04, 2022 at 5:49 am

      Thanks for letting me know about the missing salt in the ingredients list. I have updated the list. Please add 1/2 tsp of salt. Regards Kim (NordicFoodLiving.com)

      Reply
      • john

        May 07, 2022 at 3:53 pm

        Thank you! I plan to use this dough recipe to make a kagekone for my wife for US Mother's Day tomorrow. I'll let you all know how it turns out.

        Reply
  5. Nakita

    October 22, 2022 at 8:14 pm

    5 stars
    My father, who's from denmark, was delighted! It tasted really good and just like a Brunsviger should!

    Reply
    • Kim Nielsen

      October 24, 2022 at 6:53 am

      Thanks for the nice feedback. I am happy that you like this recipe for Danish Brunsviger cake :-)

      Reply
  6. Lisa

    November 04, 2022 at 10:39 pm

    Hello, Can the dough be made the night before and put in the refrigerator? I would like to serve it at an early morning gathering but don't want to get up before dawn!

    Reply
    • Kim Nielsen

      November 07, 2022 at 7:24 am

      I have not tried to make the dough in advance but I don't see the issue. It should work. But maybe reduce the amount of yeast just a little bit. Regards Kim (NordicFoodLiving.com)

      Reply
  7. Tobias

    November 23, 2022 at 4:52 pm

    4 stars
    Hello, it was a delicious cake as it was, but as a dane i have a few things to say.
    First of all a we use 1 tsp cardamom in the dough witch give it a flawour and we also add 2 eggs to the dough. Hope you will try it.

    Reply
    • Kim Nielsen

      November 24, 2022 at 8:33 am

      Thanks for your comment. I will try the 1 tsp cardamom and two eggs in the dough the next time I make this recipe. Regards Kim (NordicFoodLiving.com)

      Reply
  8. Sally Kjjaer

    December 15, 2022 at 7:05 am

    Hi, what kind of yeast can I use to replace fresh yeast, and how much, I live in NZ and have never made Brunsviger but love it for home in Danmark
    Thank you

    Reply
    • Kim Nielsen

      December 15, 2022 at 7:12 am

      Hi. I don't have much experience with dry yeasts as we normally only use fresh yeast here in Denmark. However, I have found the following conversion. I hope it can help you.

      Fresh yeast to active dry yeast you need to multiply the fresh amount by 0.4. Active dry yeast must be hydrated in warm water before being incorporated into a dough.
      Fresh yeast to instant dry yeast, you need to multiply the fresh amount by 0.33. Instant yeast should be mixed with the flour.

      Reply
  9. Brenda Lisk

    February 01, 2023 at 11:55 am

    Hi - thus looks amazing and I’d like to try it shortly. However, not sure how much 3dl milk is?

    Reply
    • Kim Nielsen

      February 02, 2023 at 7:09 am

      3 dl (decilitre) milk is the same as 1 1/3 cups. Regards Kim (NordicFoodLiving.com)

      Reply
  10. Robert Neuschul

    May 10, 2023 at 5:44 pm

    3 stars
    Brunsviger is perfectly translatable: it means of or from Brunsvig - the German city of Braunschweig, which is rendered in English as Brunswick. The reason for the name of the Danish pastry is perfectly simple: the Brunsviger cake is a direct copy of a Braunschweig cake with as near-identical a recipe and appearance as makes no difference! Braunschweigers have been baking this cake for a very long time - since long before Viennese bakers went to Copenhagen during the bakers' strikes and Denmark learned about layered pastries.

    Reply
4.55 from 11 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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