Smörgåstårta
Swedish Savory Sandwich Cake
A visually stunning and delicious savory layered sandwich cake, traditionally served for celebrations. It features alternating layers of soft bread, creamy fillings, and is elaborately decorated to resemble a formal cake.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 large White bread loaf (unsliced, preferably day-old)
- 300g Cooked shrimp (peeled, deveined, finely chopped)
- 200g Smoked salmon (finely chopped)
- 4 large Hard-boiled eggs (peeled and finely chopped)
- 400g Cream cheese (full-fat, softened)
- 200g Mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons Fresh dill (chopped)
- 2 tablespoons Fresh chives (chopped)
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black pepper
- For decoration (suggestions):
- as needed Extra smoked salmon slices
- as needed Cooked shrimp
- as needed Fresh dill sprigs
- as needed Cucumber slices (thinly sliced)
- as needed Cherry tomatoes (halved)
- as needed Lemon wedges
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the bread: Carefully trim the crusts from the entire loaf. Using a long, sharp serrated knife, slice the loaf horizontally into 3 or 4 even layers, depending on the loaf's height. Aim for slices about 1-1.5 cm thick. Set aside.
⏱️ 15 minutes - 2
Prepare the fillings: \n- Shrimp Filling: In a bowl, combine the chopped shrimp, 100g of mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon of chopped dill, 1 tablespoon of chopped chives, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Mix well. \n- Egg Filling: In another bowl, combine the chopped hard-boiled eggs, 50g of mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon of chopped dill, salt, and pepper. Mash gently with a fork until combined but still slightly chunky. \n- Salmon Filling: In a third bowl, combine the chopped smoked salmon, 50g of cream cheese, 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth.
⏱️ 30 minutes - 3
Assemble the cake: Place the first layer of bread on your serving platter. Spread an even layer of the salmon filling over the bread. Top with the second layer of bread. Spread an even layer of the egg filling. If using a third layer of bread, spread the shrimp filling on top of it. Place the final bread layer on top. Gently press down on the entire cake to compact the layers.
⏱️ 20 minutes - 4
Prepare the frosting: In a medium bowl, combine the remaining 350g of cream cheese with the remaining 50g of mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon of chopped dill, 1 tablespoon of chopped chives, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth and spreadable. If it's too thick, add a tiny bit more mayonnaise or cream.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 5
Frost the cake: Using an offset spatula, carefully frost the top and sides of the assembled sandwich cake with the cream cheese mixture. Ensure an even coating. Smooth the frosting as much as possible.
⏱️ 15 minutes - 6
Decorate: This is where you get creative! Arrange your chosen garnishes (smoked salmon, shrimp, dill sprigs, cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, lemon wedges) artfully over the top and sides of the cake to make it look like a beautiful, edible centerpiece. Think about patterns and textures.
⏱️ 20 minutes - 7
Chill: Carefully cover the decorated cake with plastic wrap (try not to let it touch the decorations) or place it in a cake carrier. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight. This allows the flavors to meld and the cake to firm up, making it easier to slice.
⏱️ Minimum 4 hours chilling - 8
Serve: Remove the cake from the refrigerator about 15-20 minutes before serving. Slice into wedges using a sharp knife, wiping the knife clean between cuts for neat slices. Serve cold.
⏱️ 5 minutes
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓The bread should be slightly stale or day-old for easier slicing and to prevent it from becoming too soggy.
- ✓Ensure all fillings and the frosting are well-seasoned, as the bread is quite neutral.
- ✓Chilling is crucial for the cake to hold its shape and for the flavors to meld beautifully.
- ✓Serve very cold, as is traditional.
- ✓The decoration is a key element; have fun with it and make it visually appealing for your celebration.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Meat version: Use finely chopped ham, roast beef, or chicken in place of salmon and shrimp.
- Vegetarian: Use finely chopped hard-boiled eggs, mushrooms sautéed with herbs, or a mix of finely diced vegetables like bell peppers and celery, bound with cream cheese and mayonnaise.
- Add a layer of thinly sliced cucumber or avocado between bread layers for added freshness.