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Vínarterta
Vínarterta: Icelandic layered cardamom shortbread with spiced prune jam
Vínarterta, 'Vienna cake', is the Icelandic Christmas cake: six or seven thin layers of cardamom-scented biscuit dough sandwiched with thick prune jam spiced with cinnamon and cardamom, then left to mature for a few days before slicing into narrow strips. It is still baked by Icelandic families in Reykjavík and by the descendants of Icelanders in Manitoba, where it became a symbol of home. A common mistake is slicing it the same day; the layers are crisp until the jam softens them. Chef's tip: wrap it and leave it for 3 days in a cool place, so the biscuit softens into a fine cake.
- Total time
- 110 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 16
Ingredients
For the layers
- 7 oz soft butter
- 7 oz sugar
- 2 eggs
- 16 oz plain flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 ½ tsp ground cardamom
- 2 tbsp milk
For the prune jam
- 1 ⅛ lb pitted prunes
- 1 ¼ cups water
- 3 ½ oz sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground cardamom
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Simmer 1 ⅛ lb pitted prunes in 1 ¼ cups water with 3 ½ oz sugar for 20 minutes, until very soft. Blend smooth with 1 tsp ground cinnamon, ½ tsp ground cardamom and 1 tsp vanilla extract and cool; it should be thick.
20 minStep 2: Beat 7 oz soft butter and 7 oz sugar until pale, then beat in 2 eggs. Mix in 16 oz plain flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 ½ tsp ground cardamom and 2 tbsp milk to a firm dough. Chill 30 minutes.
Step 3: Heat the oven to 375°F (fan 350°F). Divide the dough into 6 and roll each piece on baking paper into a 22 cm circle.
Step 4: Bake 2 at a time for 8–10 minutes, until pale gold at the edges. Cool on the paper.
30 minStep 5: Stack the layers with jam between each. Common mistake: slicing it at once; the layers are still crisp.
Step 6: Wrap tightly and leave in a cool place for 3 days before slicing into thin strips.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 300 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 48 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does vínarterta take?
- About 110 minutes in total: 60 minutes to prepare and 50 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 16 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of soft butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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