Book of Days Tales

The last Sunday in April is Flag Day in Åland, an autonomous, demilitarized island that is part of Finland. Åland pancake is the island’s pride and joy. It is closer to a cake than a pancake in the sensibilities of the English, but we need not quibble about words. Instead enjoy this dish with a fruit compote, jam, or whipped cream. In Åland the pancake is traditionally served with sviskonkräm (prune jam) and whipped cream (which in Åland is called snömos, lit. ‘snow mash’).

 Ingredients

 1 cup semolina
5 cups milk
½ cup whole wheat flour
½ cup sugar
½ tsp salt
1 – 2 tsp ground cardamom
3 eggs
2-3 Tbsp unsalted butter

 Instructions

Preheat oven to 400° F/205º C. Grease a 9″x13″ oven-safe pan.

Cook the semolina in the milk over medium heat, stirring often, until it acquires a porridge-like consistency. Remove from the heat and let cool.

Meanwhile combine the flour, sugar, salt and cardamon in a bowl. Beat in the eggs. Add the semolina mixture and mix well. Transfer into the prepared pan.

Slice the butter and place knobs of butter on top of the dough.

Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until the top is golden brown.