My name is Gitte and I’m from Denmark. I live in the US with my wonderful family and I enjoy recreating classic, as well as modern Danish recipes and also trying out other Scandinavian and American dishes. Learning to bake in a foreign country using unfamiliar ingredients and trying to navigate translations and conversions has been challenging. What I have tried to do with my blog is to translate not only recipe ingredients and instructions but also convert from metric to standard measurements and I hope this will be helpful to anyone wanting to bake Scandinavian recipes. My blog consist of mostly baked goods but you may also encounter some good home cooking, from time to time. I hope you enjoy this site and feel free to stop in anytime.
My Danish Kitchen 
I have been searching for a recipe with less than desirable results. Problem is I cannot remember the name of it and couldn’t spell it if I did. My grandmother made a pudding with grape juice, homemade not bottled, and for the life of me I cannot remember what she called. It was good served warm with cream and a sprinkle of sugar and equally good cold. My great-grandmother made it as well so I’m sure it is Danish in origin. Do you have any ideas? I would love to make it for my grandchildren.
A “pudding with grape juice” does not ring a bell. However, “served warm with cream and a sprinkle of sugar” almost sounds like Rød Grød Med Fløde. Take a look at the link and see if this is what your looking for. Merry Christmas Nancy 🙂
Hmmm, maybe. The name doesn’t ring a bell but the picture looks slightly familiar. I would really like to try it. Any hints on the quantity of juice I should use? Thanks for your help. I’m going to try a couple of other recipes here that are familiar. I have such fond memories of my grandmothers meals.
It’s in the recipe. The first 1 cup of liquid (I used water) is for cooking with the fruit, the second portion of water is just a small amount to make a cornstarch slurry. Hope it’s what your looking for. 🙂
Stikkelsbær-grød med flødeskum!
Henrik, ja sådan kan man nok også gøre det 🙂 har dog aldrig smagt det.
Are you able to obtain Danish potatoes? Do you have a source??!! Can you share? Blessings.
No I am not able to get Danish potatoes here at all. I am not sure if you are thinking about the small potatoes in a glass jar which is popular in Denmark for making Brunede Kartofler. If this is the case, I have never seen them here but any small firm potato will do. Just boil and allow potatoes to cool completely (preferably cook them the day before), peel potatoes and use for making Brunede Kartofler. Hope I answered your question. Merry Christmas Tina.
I am thinking of the new potatoes of the Samson region that are said to be the best in the world!! I saw the jar of potatoes in the resource you gave, the little store, Scandinavianbutik.com. I did not see if these were the new potatoes…. I will go back to check if I missed that. Thank you, Gitte! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Samso(/) area. (Not Samson) Auto correct makes me crazy sometimes!
🙂
Just came across your site Gitte, – we have been here 32 years and make Grønlang Kål for New Years, – we get small peeled canned potatoes from Shop Rite, they work great for suger brunede kartofler)
Great advice, thank you Birgitte 🙂 Unfortunately we don’t have Shop Rite’s here.
OHMGOSH!! I’m so happy I’ve come across this blog space. I was in DK a LONG time ago (30 yrs) and I fell in love with the people and the food. I lived over the whole country (From Bornholm to Skive) and really miss it. I’m always looking for good recipes, unfortunately it doesn’t seem that too many people are familiar with danske mad.
It’s hard to explain to my family and friends how good things are.. and the substitutes I find just arent the same.
Thanks again
Wayne, I am thrilled that you are enjoying the blog. Thank you so much for your kind words.
Gitte, thank you for your blog. I am a 2nd generation Dane and I want to share some Danish culture with my kids. I only have a few recipes and Christmas elves. So thanks for the background stories with the recipes. Mom wasn’t very interested in cooking so even familiar recipe names don’t resemble your photos much, except the frikadeller!
Christmas baking is now underway, and we all look forward to enjoying our ris a la mande after Christmas dinner! We use raspberry sauce instead of cherries in our family.
Susan (first Canadian-born, first Canadian name!)
I am so looking forward to the Ris a la Mande myself. I will actually be serving it twice this year 😀 once for my Danish friends and of course for Christmas Eve.
Happy Christmas baking Susan!
Gitte, Thank you for your reply and your Danish Kitchen is now on my desktop and A very Merry Christmas to you and your family too.
Merry Christmas 🙂
Hi Gitte,
My husband Viggo is from Silkeborg, DK and we live in the NC Mountains. He just ask that I make Brunkager today. I love to cook and after searchin my Danish Cookbooks I could not find a recipe. Finding your site online was a nice surprise and a good recepe for these cookies. I will certainly return to your site in the future and iI send to you a very special “thank you.”
Brenda
Brenda, I am so glad that you liked the Brunkager recipe, they are wonderful. Funny coincidence, I am baking some myself today, trying out a new recipe. Merry Christmas to you and your family. 😀
Mie
I had an exchange student, from Odense also.. My husband and I had the pleasure of spending a couple weeks there this past summer… Isabella cooked for us, while she was here, it was wonderful… and has made me re think how Americans cook, and eat. Enjoy your time here in the states..
Nan
Hi Gitte
I’m an exchange student in Oregon, USA this year, and your blog is a big help. I like to cook Danish food for my host family here, and it definitely helps reading this blog. Now I know how many ounces and cups I use instead of grams. It is also a big inspiration to cakes and other stuff, that I forgot was Danish 🙂
So thank you,
Mie from Odense, Denmark
Converting metric to American units is one of those things that can make someone give up on making traditional foods. I know for myself this has been a big obstacle in the past, so I am always happy to hear that My Danish Kitchen is helpful to many people. 🙂
Hello Gitte! I am glad to have stumbled upon your blog when looking for a custard recipe for a danish layer cake.
I am Canadian (born here) but my parents are from Denmark and so I have that strange mix of knowledge and naiveté about danish culture that isn’t uncommon in the first generation. Unfortunately, I don’t speak danish so I need to rely on english sources for recipes, which can lead to some awful atrocities – like using packaged yellow cake, instant pudding and Cool Whip to make a danish layer cake!
Your pictures are wonderful and I love the variety of foods you try. Great site!
(p.s. I think butter chicken is called that not because of the butter added, but because when made in the traditional way the chicken is cooked a long time and ends up being buttery-soft.)
Ah ha, that would explain the name Butter Chicken. Thanks 🙂
I am so glad to have stumbled upon your blog! My husband served a church mission in Denmark, and although I was born in America, I am of Danish heritage. I’m excited to try some of your recipes. Thank you for your blog!
Kelli, I am so glad you’re enjoying the blog! 😀
Hej Gitte. Min kollega, “Profiteroles & Ponytails”, sendte mig linket til din blog. Har skimmet igennem det sidste halve aar – og lad mig sige, at det bare ser laekkert ud!!! Du har ramt mange af mine yndlingsopskrifter! 🙂 Jeg er dansker og bor i Ottawa, Canada – har masser af kogeboeger og elsker at kokkere. Men nogle gange er de “gamle” danske opskrifter meget tidskraevende eller kraever saerlige instrumenter, saa jeg vil helt sikkert kigge naermere paa dine opskrifter. Fortsaet det gode arbejde! Maria
Maria, tak for de søde ord. Jeg ved godt hvad du mener. Mange gange er det svært at at finde de rigtige ingredienser, instrumenter og for bloggen prøver jeg at omsætte gram til ounces for det er jo ikke alle som har en vægt med gram lige ved hånden. Jeg er rigtig glad for at du kan lide bloggen 😀
One of my mom’s best friends is from Denmark. I have very fond memories of my brief visit there — and I love to introduce my friends to abelskivers! It is nice to see some lovely Scandanavian desserts on your blog!
Ohh Æbleskiver season is coming up in December, can’t wait 🙂
I found your blog whilst looking for a recipe for remoulade. I’m in Melbourne, Australia and came here in 1956 with my family. I was 6 years. I’ve always been interested in Denmark and once in a while look up some Danish recipes. Your blog is really interesting. Thank you. And I will be trying out your remoulade recipe, Cheers, Susanne
Susanne – It always makes me happy to hear that my blog has helped someone reconnect with their roots.
By the way, I have family down in Australia as well. Aunt, uncle and two cousins (Lotte and Kim) which I have not seen since probably 1975. Maybe one day I’ll hear from them through this blog, you never know, it’s such a small world. 🙂
Hi
My husband Jon and I just returned from Denmark, we just loved it there.. and had a nice Liver pate… I am going to try cooking a Danish dinner for our extended family in Sept… with the pork roast with crackling.. with all the Danish trimmings..
Thanks for your blog site… this is new for me.. I keep watching and reading..
Nan, I am so glad your enjoying reading the blog. Have fun with the Flæskesteg (pork roast with crackling).
Dejlig blog og dejlige opskrifter! Jeg vil lægge et link til den på min egen. 🙂
Tak for de søde ord. Din blog er også rigtig flot med masser af Danske billeder.
Nice blog you have there Gitte – good idea to teach America about thebirkes – they won’t be able to live without them now 🙂 And the blog is a good way for your to keep in touch with your culinary roots.
Best from Karen in Skivholme (deep in the country in Denmark :-))
Thank you! My thoughts exactly 🙂
Hi Gitte, While in Denmark, the hotel I stayed in served a wonderful flat almond filled danish pastry that my daughter (who was studying there) called Tieberke…not sure of the spelling. Do you know of it and where I could find an authentic recipe for?
Hi Helen
The word you are mentioning “Tieberke” sounds like perhaps the Danish Thebirkes which, incidentally, I’ll be posting about on Monday. However, your description “flat almond filled pastry” I am unsure about. I don’t think Thebirkes are flat but take a look at the post on Monday and see if it’s the pastry you had. If it is the same pastry then you probably had the kind with the Remonce filling. Hope this was helpful.
Hej Gitte!…Fed blog du har her, med mange super opskrifter…Læser med og prøver dine opskrifter selvom jeg sidder i lille Danmark…Super godt lavet:)
Ihh, mange tak Martin 🙂
Hello from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada! I really enjoy reading your blog – my mom is from Denmark too, so it is great to see so many recipes that I remember from my childhood. I look forward to reading more soon! 🙂
I am so glad you are enjoying the blog 🙂
Well I got my question answered here 😉 How many years have you been living in USA?
26 plus years, I try to go back home (DK) and visit as often as I can 🙂
I was thrilled to find your foodie blog with Danish recipes in English. A few years ago my sisters, cousin, and I published a family cookbook that contained a few Danish recipes from our great grandparents that had been passed down through the generations and seeing your recipes I’m afraid some of ours may have become Americanized along the way! Your recipes and photos look great. I hope to try some soon.
~merry~
Merry, well that the thing about recipes, they constantly evolve and there is no one correct way of making something. Every family has their own way of making a traditional dish. That’s what makes it fun 🙂
My husband is from Denmark and we have been married almost two years and I really have made it a point to learn how to make some of his favorite foods. I have learned to love some of them too. This blog has helped me so much. Thank you! Next attempt, leverpostej.
Amanda, I am so glad that my little blog has been of some help to you. I am sure your husband is happy that you are willing to try making some Danish dishes for him 🙂
I found your blog searching for a risalamande recipe. My great-grandparents both came from Denmark and when my great grandmother died when I was 19 she took a number of wonderful recipes and childhood memories with her. My grandmother also recently passed, taking the rest of our Danish recipes with her (neither liked to write things down…) and I’ve been on a search for similar ones ever since. 🙂 Just wanted to say hello and how much I love your blog.
Thank you Jenn, I am so glad that you are enjoying the blog. I know what you mean, my mother is the same way…measuring everything by eyeballing (which by the way makes a great cook in my opinion) but also very difficult for others to follow along 🙂
Hi Gitte,
This is a wonderful blog and very helpful recipes.
May I ask which food processor you are using? I have been looking around but finding it hard to find the right one.
Thank you so much and glædelig jul 🙂
Cheers from Pernille in Las Vegas.
Hello Pernille,
Thank you for your kind words. I have a lot of fun with my food blog 🙂
My food processor is a Hamilton Beach which I have had for a number of years and I don’t think I paid more than $60 for it. I use it all the time and it is one of my favorite small appliances. It has held up really well and I have no complaints about it. I hope this was helpful to you.
Glædelig Jul to you and yours!
You have a beautiful blog over here! I am happy trying your tasty recipes!
Many greetings from another foodie from Brussels, Belgium!!
Thank you so much Sophie 🙂
I just stumbled upon your blog tonight and I am so happy that I found it!! I studied abroad in Copenhagen during the Spring of 2010 and I miss the food so much!! 🙂 I love your recipes and cannot wait to cook some Danish foods for my friends here in Chicago!
Sarah, I am so glad that you enjoy my little blog and that it broght back some fond memories for you 🙂
Hej Gitte,
Just stumbled upon your blog today but I am gonna keep reading.
I am a Dane currently living in Denmark but I’m married to an American so I have also had to figure out cooking with unfamiliar ingredients and measures but I’ve grown fond of a lot of American food and holidays 😉
ecoelder
Hi Ecoelder,
I hope you enjoy reading the blog. As a person from two worlds I am probably, in many many ways, very lucky, although difficult at times. 😉
Hej Gitte,
Jeg holder meget af vellagret Dansk Ost og fandt derved din Blog. Jeg boede i Danmark indtil 1947 – gik i Skole og studerede på Polyteknisk Læreanstalt under Krigen. Jeg emigrerede til U.S. i 1949 og har boet her siden. Jeg har tilbragt hver Sommer i Danmark siden 1960 og selvfølgelig spist en Masse gammel Ost. Nu har de Pigenavne, men jeg husker Gamle Ole fra gamle Dage.
Mit Spørgsmål er nu : Hvor kan jeg købe disse Oste her. Jeg bor i Boulder City nær Las Vegas. Kan du hjælpe mig med det Problem?
Mange Hilsener, Jørgen Visbak
http://www.nordichouse.com/
http://www.scandikitchen.co.uk/categories/Fresh/From-the-cheese-cellar/
http://www.nordiskimport.com/category/Main-Shop-1
http://hjemve.dk/
De først to websites har en gang imellem Game Ole, men det er meget dyrt i shipping og handling. Jeg har aldrig set Gamle Ole på de sidste to websites. Jeg håber du finder en Gamle Ole for den er jo altså bare dejlig.
Hej , hvor er du i Virginia, jeg bor i Linden men arbejder i Fairfax
Hej Pernille, jeg er i Virginia Beach. Så vi er jo ikke så langt fra hinanden 🙂
Hej Gitte,
Thank you so much for putting this blog up! Flipping through these recipes makes me miss Denmark so much! I spent 11 months there as a foreign exchange student and absolutely love it (lived in Hillerod). I hope to go back someday when I have the money too (dang college tuition), but for now, I can at least share the food I enjoyed with my friends and family!
Mange tak!
Kaytlyn
My pleasure. Have fun trying some of the recipes 🙂
Hey Getti,
I look forward to getting into you blog a little more. My Mother was a wonderful danish cook as well as my fatehr’s mother. I enjoy cooking and happened on your blog to see some different recipes for cucumber salad (I added a post at the end)
My wife and kids like my cooking and I want to add more of a danish flavor to what I serve to help them identify with there danish heritage.
I look forward to hearing more from you.
God’s Peace!
Chris Rasmussen
Hei Gitte,
Nice finding your blogg. I have lived in Norway for the last 23 years – and find it a lot of fun to see your recipes and recall eating a lot of them.
– And since we have been “promised” a LOT o rain this weekend I might try some of them.
Have a nice summer
Vennlig hilsnser fra Bente i Norge
I am so glad you enjoy reading the blog 🙂 and I think you’ll really enjoy tasting some of the “good old” familiar flavors again. Have fun with it.
Kære Gitte
Thank you So very much for your great site.
I am a Dane living (not in the US) but in Australia and forever looking for THOSE special Foods to introduce my australian partner and our son to. Yes they also think some of them are strange and can still not get their teeth into RUGBRØD (ryebread) but they are learning…
Thank you Thank you Thank you SOOOOO much for your great site….
Knus
Mette
Kære Mette
I am so glad that I can share some of these Danish recipes and that it makes a lot of individuals very happy. Thank you so much for your kind comment and believe me, it is all my pleasure. It has helped me stay connected to my own Danish roots. 🙂
Tusinde Kærlige Hilsener fra
Gitte
Hejsaa! Jeg er amerikaner, og er glade for at have fundet din blog. Jeg boede i Danmark i naesten 7 aar, i KBH, og kan ind i mellem kom til at savne Danske traditioner og mad. Jeg havde det naesten ligesom dig i et stykke tid, og kender godt det med at man skal laere at lave mad i et lyt land med nye ingredienser og maal, osv! Det gjorde kokkenet endnu mere komplicerede denne gang fordi at jeg boede sammen med min franske kaereste! Meget glade for at laere din blog at kende; jeg oensker dig forsat success!
Hej Gitte,
Just like you I moved to the USA and I try to keep some of the Danish traditions and cook my favorite dishes. Recently I opened a store with Scandinavian foods. I am amazed how many Scandinavian people there are in the US and people are thrilled to be able to get stuff from home. If you or any of your readers are in the need of any Danish specialty I hope you will visit our on line store: scandinavianbutik.com
Thanks,
Doris
As a Scandinavian living in abroad, you can never have too many sources of Danish goodies. 🙂
Hej Gitte!
I have had (and partially still have) a similar experience to yours. I am Italian and live in Australia… I am lucky in a way, because there are many Italians who have migrated here before me… that helps because you find lots of Italian products… but not everything. There are things I still miss a lot, but I am glad I have found places that sell original Italian food (it took a long time to discover them!!!)! BTW… I LOVE Denmark… so I will definitely be back on your blog! 🙂
hello Gitte!
I am doing a post on my blog about danish food and I have questions I would love to ask! May I email some questions to you?
On another note my friend said he loves this danish pastry that contained pistachios but he can’t remember the name of it…do you know what he may be referring to?
Best
Stephanie
Stephanie, yes of course you can email me questions and I’ll do my best to answer. About the pistachio pastry, I am afraid I don’t know which pastry your friend is reffering to, sorry.
Do you plan to change your blog banner/header for summer? 🙂
Best of luck with your food blog. We were in Copenhagen this past summer for a few days.
I occasionally write about food.
Thank you and I hope you enjoyed Copenhagen. No the blog header changes quite often with the seasons 🙂
great blog and a great job!
I remember the days of “eternal spaghetti”!
You’ve came a loooong way Baby!!!!!!
LOL thank you Judd. Those were the good ol days eh.
Kaere Gitte
I too was happy to find your blog, as I have recently started a frequent correspondance with a relative of mine in Michigan, who is very interested in Danish customs and her family roots. I particularly wanted to send her a recipe for Pebernødder, and as I’m no baker myself, and as I find it hard to translate the measurements, your blog will come in very handy for Becky and myself!
Best advent wishes from Bodil
I am so glad that I decided to translate the ingredients and unit measurements. Not everyone has a weight scale that converts. 🙂
Hello Gitte,
My husband came across your site in search of Danish Christmas Cookies. He will be headed to the store for a few more ingredients. I noticed some really pretty spoons in a few of your pictures on the Ris a la mande. Can you tell me where those are from or where one could purchase those particular spoons. They are beautiful!
Thank you, they are beautiful indeed. They are old, not sure how old and I really don’t know where you could buy them?
Try googling: “michelsen enamel spoons”.
Og derudover: Hej!. Kom lige forbi din fine blog, da jeg ledte efter toscakage – som der åbenbart ikke er vildt mange opskrifter på online.
Men mine kolleger var meget glade for resultatet 🙂
Rigtig glad for at høre de godt kunne lide den 🙂
I am an American living in Denmark and I also have a food blog about cooking, baking, dancing and living here. I love your blog! Thank you for bringing your lovely Danish traditions to America!!!
Shelby, it’s all my pleasure and I hope you are enjoying your stay in Denmark 🙂
I have enjoying looking at your blog! I am sure I will make some of the things on it. I was especially looking for a good Danish “bolle” recipe. I remember mother making them and eating them with lots of butter and cheese. If you have one will you please e-mail it to me. Thanks, Lise
Hi there,
Jeg er ogsaa en dansker i udlandet! Am at university in England, and live with my English boyfriend, who just LOVES Danish food. I was searching for a recipe for pebernoedder on google and happened to find your blog – I will def. keep watching out for new posts! 🙂
Camilla
Camilla, I am so glad I can provide you with some Danish recipes for Christmas. Hope you and your boyfriend likes them.
Gitte-
My son is 9 and working on a school project. He needs a easy recipe to make that he can share from the 50`s in Denmark! Any help? Thanks ! Scott Edwards
I am not sure what baked goods were eaten the 50’s specifically, but tomorrow I’ll be posting about Danish Pebernødder cookies which are easy and fun to make. I’m sure it was eaten at Christmas in the 50’s since it is though to be one of the oldest Danish cookies. The only thing you may not have on hand it Cardamom but you should be able to find it in just about any grocery store. Hope this helps your sons project.
Today is my lucky day! I found your blog while looking for a recipe for cold buttermilk soup. My parents came to Canada from Denmark in the 50’s. I crave everything Danish when it comes to food and learning about Danish cooking. We also have just one son. And he just left for university too and is having way too much fun! Congratulations on your beautiful blog.
Thank you so much for your kind words and I am so glad you enjoy reading my blog. I will be posting more Danish recipes in the near future and have quite a few Danish Christmas items coming up.
Maybe I should try to make those Christmas recipes at the same time as you! What a way to bring back some great memories! Thanks for stopping by to visit today.
Anne
Hi Gitte
I am hoping you can help with a Danish cake recipe. My Danish grandmother used to make this absolutely scrumptious cake at the holidays. It was nine layer white cake with either ligonberry or raspberry perserve like filling between the layers and iced with a fresh whipped cream. Have you ever heard of this type of cake? If so, do you have a recipe to share? Looking forward to more Danish recipes in your posts.
Thanks
Sara
Hi Sara, no I don’t know the name of the cake your describing but it sounds like some sort of “lagkage” (layer cake). Lagkage is very popular in Denmark and it’s basically layers of cake with some type of berry or preserve and soft cream inbetween the layers. Here is a link so you can see some examples of lagkage.
A Danish food writer wrote about such a cake here: http://www.fuglebjerggaard.dk/C.%20artikler%202004/Baer.htm
But the whole article is in Danish.
Gitte, lovely blog, sometimes one needs the outside perspective to really see what is Danish.
I am glad I found your blog. I totally understand your story. Mine is very similar! I hope we can share more delicious recipes and beautiful stories in the future.
I love to add your blog to my blog roll, hope you don’t mind.
Thank you for your kind words. No I don’t mind at all, as a matter of fact, it’s an honor. Thank you. And I’ll add your site to my blogroll as well.
I feel the same way. I never enjoyed cooking but picked it up to have a healthier lifestyle for myself and my family. I come from a line of wonderful cooks, so i’m trying to catch up if you will. I love your site and I see that you’re in VA. I’m in MD myself. Lets keep in touch!
This sounds so familiar. Originally from Israel, I now live in the northern (or should I say frozen) part of Quebec, in a native territory. I too struggle sometimes between what’s offered here in the store and what I am used to, especially when I try to cook “Israeli”.
You recipes sound good and your blog is very lovely.
Ayalla