Today many people in Finland are enjoying Runeberg's cakes to commemorate our national poet Johan Ludwig Runeberg who lived in the 19th century. Apparently he had quite a sweet-tooth; he loved the small cakes baked by Lars Astenius, the master confectioner in his town. It is said that the poet enjoyed some coffee, punsch, and this delicious cake for his breakfast.
He ate the cakes so often that they were named after him.
In addition to usual ingredients like sugar, butter, and flour, the cakes are made with crushed gingerbread cookies, almonds & sweet almond extract, milk, molasses, orange juice & zest, cardamom, and rum. The small cakes are decorated with sugar icing and raspberry marmalade. And yes, they are overly sweet.
Here they are in miniature, 8 mm in height and 4 mm in diameter (made by another miniature enthusiast).
2 comments:
Thanks for sharing the tradition of celebrating Runeberg's Day.
Hugs, Drora
The cakes sound delicious, and maybe require having them with a glass of milk! Your miniature versions are adorable!
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