Norwegian Cakes and Cookies

Book excerpt: Norway’s most acclaimed pastry chef, Sverre Sætre, brings his latest tempting dessert discoveries to the table with recipes for everything from decadent cakes, tarts, and puddings to candied fruits, chocolate confections, and cookies. Sætre’s desserts are anchored in Norwegian tradition, such as Fyrstekake (layers of rich butter pastry with a marzipan filling), Kokosboller (chocolate-coconut truffles), and Tilslørte bondepiker (sweet fruit compote with whipped cream), but his creative twists make each sweet dish original. Sætre applies his years of professional expertise and his personal creative flair to this culinary collection, using wonderful ingredients in exciting ways to create new and delicious flavors. From sweet and simple fruit-based confections to more complex pastries and chocolates, Norwegian desserts have never been so exciting. Each of the fifty recipes is accompanied by the luscious photography of Christian Brun, and Sætre also includes a chapter on essential basics such as pie and tart crusts, vanilla custard, and dark chocolate glaze, with useful tips for beginning and expert bakers alike.