‘Saturday sweets’ is a tradition that has been around for a long time. Every week, children and adults alike head to the supermarket or sweet shop and indulge in all their favourite candy. It began as a government initiative in the 1950s intended to restrict people’s consumption of sweets. However, it could be said that it has somewhat backfired, as Sweden and Denmark are believed to be the top consumers of candy per capita in the world.
When it comes to the new Nordic dessert menu, you never quite know what to expect. Given their love of candy, it might be assumed that their desserts would be equally sugary. But just as we have seen throughout the other chapters in this book with sweet elements managing to work their way into savoury dishes, playing with this sweet–savoury contrast is enjoyed in desserts too. New Nordic desserts are not so sweet that they bowl you over; they are often more subtle and you’re likely to find some elements more traditionally at home in savoury dishes.
Dairy plays a huge and important role in the Nordic diet, and this is no less true when it comes to dessert. And, since there aren’t any tropical fruits hanging from palm trees in Helsinki, the focus is on celebrating the forest fruits. On the following pages you’ll find some of the desserts and sweet dishes that I think perfectly combine the use of traditional ingredients with contemporary preparation techniques.