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Whether you’re hunting for a dazzling dessert for a birthday party, baby shower, or any special occasion, look no further: Princess Cake, known as prinsesstårta in Sweden, is the ultimate showstopper. In fact, the recipe is so intricate that it was featured as a technical challenge on the “Continental Cake” episode of “The Great British Baking Show.”
While the recipe is ideal for experienced bakers, those who put in the effort are rewarded with a gorgeous four-layer masterpiece filled with raspberry jam and pastry cream. The cake is crowned with a dome of whipped cream wrapped in eye-catching marzipan and decorated with fresh raspberries—a dessert fit for royalty. Let’s explore what makes Princess Cake so special and how you can nail the recipe at home.
What Is Princess Cake?
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Princess Cake, lauded as Sweden’s most iconic dessert, was created in the 1920s, by cookbook author and home economics expert Jenny Åkerström. While she served as an instructor to the three Princesses of Sweden—Margaretha, Märtha, and Astrid—Åkerström developed a recipe called grön tårta (green cake). But it’s rumored that the princess’ fondness for the cake led to the name it is known by today.
Today, the third week of September is officially Prinsesstårta Week in Sweden. During that time, a small portion of sales from every Princess Cake is donated to Crown Princess Victoria’s Fund benefiting chronically ill and disabled children and adolescents. In the United States, variations of the dessert, including rolled cakes and versions filled with fresh fruit, have recently appeared on menus at bakeries and restaurants across the country. The Princess Cake recipe submitted by Allrecipes community member annathe, is inspired by the traditional Swedish recipe.
“Flavored with a creamy vanilla pastry cream, bright raspberries, and an almondy marzipan, this beautiful layered sponge cake is not for the faint of heart!” recipe creator Anna Theoktisto says. “However, the end result is amazing, and this cake would be excellent at a dinner party, birthday party, holiday celebration, or any special occasion.”
How to Make Princess Cake
- Prepare the pastry cream: Complete this step first since you need to chill the cream for at least 3 hours. You can even do this a day ahead of time.
- Bake the cake: Bake the cakes and cool thoroughly (again you can do this a day ahead!). Slice to create four thin layers.
- Assemble the cake: Spread the layers with raspberry jam and pastry cream and assemble them on a cake plate.
- Finish your masterpiece: Prepare your whipped cream and marzipan and top your cake. Finally, dust the cake with powdered sugar and decorate it with fresh raspberries. Crown yourself “Star Baker” and bask in the compliments.
Test Kitchen Tips
Intimidated by all of the steps? Here is some advice from Allrecipes recipe developer and tester Anna Theoktisto to help you make the best Princesstårta.
- Prepare your muscles. “Do not do an arm workout the same day or day before you plan to make this cake,” Theoktisto says. “Between rolling and kneading the marzipan, and whipping the eggs over simmering water, your arms will be Jell-O.”
- Speed up the process. If you’re pressed for time, chill the pastry cream in an ice bath instead of storing it in the refrigerator for 3 hours.
- Don’t skip the skewer. “Using a skewer to hold the layers together prevents them from sliding around and makes frosting the cake with whipped cream much easier to do,” says Theoktisto.
- Find the right surface to work your marzipan. Roll your marzipan (our test kitchen recommends Odense brand) out on your dining table, which can offer more leverage than a kitchen countertop.
Get the recipe: Swedish Princess Cake (Prinsesstårta)
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