Sandwich Layer-Cake
Smörgåstårta or sandwich cake is a typical Swedish party dish, not to be confused with Smörgåsbord. The sandwich cake is a very rich sandwich with so much filling it resembles a cake. It is excellent for receptions and parties since it is served cold and can be prepared in advance. It is also possible to have great variation in the fillings to accompany most peoples taste. The dish can be served as a cake or in…
Ingredients
- 3–4 eggs
- 1 kg (~2.25 lbs) shrimp with shells on
- 4.5 dl (450 ml / 1 pint) cottage cheese
- 4 dl (400 ml) mayonnaise
- 1 dl (100 ml) sour cream
- 2 loaves white sandwich bread
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Sprigs of dill or slices of lemon or lime for garnish
- Chopped dill or parsley for garnish
Steps
- Boil eggs until hard. Peel shrimp.
- Set aside about ⅓ of shrimp for garnish. Chop remaining shrimp for filling.
- Mix 1 dl mayonnaise with 1 dl sour cream in cup or bowl. Refrigerate.
- Mix remaining mayonnaise, cottage cheese and chopped shrimp in another bowl for filling.
- Cut bread lengthwise into eight 1 cm thick slices. Discard top and bottom slices.
- Place two slices side by side, on cutting board if possible. Spread one third of filling. Add two more slices.
- Spread half of remaining filling. Repeat for final layer. Cake has four bread layers with three filling layers.
- Even out edges with sharp knife if necessary.
- Remove mayonnaise/sour cream mix from refrigerator. Spread thinly and evenly on sides and top.
- Cover sides with chopped parsley or dill. Garnish with shrimp, sliced eggs, and dill sprigs or lemon slices.
Notes from the original
- The recipe above describes a four layer cake with only one type of filling. It is possible to use different fillings in different layers of the cake. However, make sure that the tastes of the fillings "fit" together. It is also possible to do a three layer cake.
- Instead of serving the sandwich cake in cake form it is possible to cut it into pieces before serving. This makes an excellent appetizer or it can be more convenient way to serve the cake since guests do not have to cut it.
- Since the sandwich cake can be quite heavy it is usually served with a mixed salad. Tortilla chips, various kinds of nuts, or almonds (roasted or fresh) can also be served on the side.
- When preparing the sandwich cake in "appetizer style" do not cut the bread lengthwise, instead cut normal slices. It is also possible to use pre-sliced bread. Only use two layers for the appetizers and use a tooth-pick to hold it together.
Source. Adapted from “Cookbook:Sandwich Layer-Cake” by Wikibooks contributors, revision of 2025-06-21, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Changes. Steps rewritten into short commands. Introduction shortened. Wiki formatting removed. This adapted recipe is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo. Smorgatarta.JPG by Mereman at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia. Resized; otherwise unchanged.