Ostkaka

Ostkaka (pronounced oost-kah-kah), ost meaning "cheese" and kaka meaning "cake" in Swedish, is known as Swedish cheesecake or Swedish curd cake, it is a Swedish dessert that has its roots in two different parts of Sweden, Hälsingland and Småland, though there are some differences between ostkaka from Hälsingland resembling halloumi in texture, and the soft-grained ostkaka from Småland. Originally ostkaka was made with raw milk and cheese rennet. However, these days most people simply use cottage cheese instead, which is much faster, and gives the same flavor and texture.

Ostkaka is an eggy, crustless cake with cottage cheese, ground almonds and lemon zest; it is usually served with whipped cream and jam.

The meal is commonly enjoyed at a mild temperature, paired with jam or a fruity sauce like cloudberry, cherries, raspberry, or strawberry, with lingonberry being a frequent choice, as well as fruits, cream or, occasionally, ice cream.

Despite the similarity in literal translation, ostkaka should not be confused with cheesecake. Swedes commonly refer to the latter using its English name, occasionally dubbing it "American cheesecake", to prevent misunderstanding. Nevertheless, Scandinavian restaurant menus occasionally mix up the two.