Danish Dream Cake (Drømmekage) (2024)

Published: Sep 18, 2020 · Modified: Sep 4, 2023 by Neriz · This post contains some affiliate links.

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Drømmekage, or Danish Dream Cake, is a delicious, soft cake with coconut caramel topping — a traditional treat from Denmark! Every bite has the right balance of sweetness, softness, and crunch. Try it for your next coffee break!

Why is it called dream cake?

To quote the locals, ‘because ittastes like a dream.’

Yep, that made me smile, too, the first time I heard it. 🙂

Locally known as drømmekage, it’s a simple sponge cake topped with coconut caramel — perfect with coffee or tea.

You can make this on a standard springform round cake pan, but since they’re normally cut into squares, I find it easier to use a square cake pan.

Danish dream cake could also work as a sheet cake — you just have to adjust this recipe. Or, you’ll end up with a slightly thin layer of cake.

Regardless of what pan or tray you want to use, expect a delightfully tasty treat that’s excellent for an afternoon snack or dessert.

FOR MORE CLASSIC DANISH RECIPES, YOU WILL LIKE THESE POSTS!

Danish Breakfast Buns (Rundstykker)
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Ingredients

Flour – you only need all-purpose flour for this dream cake recipe.

Butter – unsalted butter.

Brown sugar – I usually use muscovado to make caramel topping for drømmekage.

Vanilla sugar – just use your favorite brand.

Sugar – this is for the dream cake batter, so regular white sugar would be great.

Desiccated coconut – unsweetened, dried coconut.

Baking powder – use whatever brand you have on hand.

Milk – full cream milk, if possible.

Eggs – medium-sized eggs (63 to 73 grams each or 2.2 to 2.5 ounces each), and at room temperature.

Preparation

Start preparing your Danish dream cake by preheating the oven to 180°C (350°F).

Line your cake pan with parchment paper.

Sift and mix flour, vanilla sugar, and baking powder in a medium-sized bowl.

Set the sifted dry ingredients aside for later.

Using a large mixing bowl, combine eggs with sugar.

Use a hand mixer to combine until it becomes creamy.

Add the sifted dry ingredients, melted butter, and milk.

Mix everything until you get a smooth dream cake batter.

Pour batter into the lined cake pan.

Helpful tips

Remember to use a parchment paper on top of your cake pan with some extra hanging on the sides.

It makes it easier to lift drømmekage out of the pan before slicing.

You can use a metal whisk to mix if you don’t have a hand mixer.

I use unsweetened coconut in this dream cake recipe.If you are using sweetened ones, you might need to adjust the sugar in the topping to avoid making it too sweet.

Be careful when taking your drømmekage out of the oven for the last time.

The caramel on top is extremely hot, and the bubbles are completely normal.

Recipe variation

Brown sugar.You can use any type — muscovado, turbinado, etc. The trick is to make sure it’s completely dissolved before mixing with the coconut.

However, if you want the topping to be darker, you must use dark brown sugar, not the lighter ones.

Looks so tempting, right?Then give this drømmekage recipe a try this weekend, and let me know how it goes! 🙂

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Danish Dream Cake Recipe (Drømmekage)

A traditional treat from Denmark! Drømmekage or Danish Dream Cake is a delicious, soft cake with coconut caramel on top. Excellent with coffee — so try it for your next snack, or dessert!

5 from 1 vote

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Danish

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 16

Calories: 194kcal

Author: Neriz

Equipment

Ingredients

For Cake Batter:

▢ 1 & 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (250 grams)
▢ 3/4 cup sugar
▢ 5 tbsp butter, (50 grams), unsalted & melted
▢ 3 medium eggs (63 to 73 grams each; or 2.2 to 2.5 ounces each)
▢ 3/4 cup & 2 tbsp milk
▢ 2 tsp baking powder
▢ 1 tsp vanilla sugar

For Coconut Caramel Topping:

▢ 1 stick + 1 tbsp butter, (125 grams)
▢ 5 tbsp milk
▢ 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
▢ 3/4 cup desiccated coconut, heaping

Instructions

Preparing equipment:

Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
Line your cake pan with parchment or baking paper.

Preparing dream cake batter:

Sift flour, baking powder, and vanilla sugar into a medium-sized bowl.
On a separate large mixing bowl, mix eggs and sugar until creamy.
Add the sifted dry ingredients, melted butter, and milk.Mix until you get a smooth batter.
Pour the cake batter into your lined pan.
Tap the cake pan on top of the counter to remove bubbles.
Place pan in the oven for 30 minutes or until it has turned golden.

Preparing drømmekage topping:

About 10 minutes before removing the cake out of the oven, start preparing the coconut caramel.
Using a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat.
Pour the milk and mix.
Add the brown sugar and mix until it has completely dissolved while bringing it to a slow boil.
Take the saucepan off the heat.
Add the desiccated coconut and mix to combine thoroughly.

Serving drømmekage:

Take the cake out of the oven and pour the coconut caramel on top.
Use a spatula to spread it evenly on top of your dream cake.
Place the sponge cake back in the oven for 15 minutes.
Set it aside for about 20 minutes to cool — or until the topping solidifies.
Slice your dream cake into squares and serve.

Notes

Cook’s Tip #1: This drømmekage recipe is perfect for an 8-inch round cake pan (or its equivalent square cake pan).
Cook’s Tip #2: You can use any type of brown sugar. Just remember that its color will determine how dark the coconut caramel topping will be.
Cook’s Tip #3: A metal whisk is an excellent alternative if you don’t have a hand mixer.
Cook’s Tip #4: Be careful when taking drømmekageout of the oven for the last time. The caramel on top is extremely hot — the bubbles are completely normal.

Nutrition

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