Spettekaka

Spettekaka, also known as spettkaka, is a delightful traditional dessert from southern Sweden, particularly renowned in the provinces of Scania and Halland. This treat holds a cherished place in Scanian culinary traditions. It's crafted by rolling a mixture of eggs, potato starch flour, and sugar onto a skewer, which is then rotated over an open fire or heat source. The result is a very dry cake that’s sealed in a plastic bag to maintain its crispness until it's ready to be enjoyed.

Spettekaka can vary in size, ranging from just a few inches to several feet tall, and can exceed a foot in diameter. When it's time to serve, larger cakes are often cut into cuboids using a hacksaw blade to prevent crumbling or shattering.

This dessert is typically savored with dark coffee, vanilla ice cream, and port wine. An interesting fact: the largest spettekaka ever made was baked in Sjöbo, Scania, in 1985. It stood an impressive 3.6 meters tall and was featured in the 1986 Guinness Book of Records!

Skånsk spettkaka has earned Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status under EU law, underscoring its cultural and regional importance.

There are also other regional variations of spit cakes around the world. These include Baumkuchen from Germany, Šakotis from Lithuania, Kürtőskalács from Hungary, Trdelník from the Czech Republic and Slovakia (which also has PGI status), and Sękacz from Poland.