Prinsesstarta

The prinsesstarta, the princess cake, is Sweden's favourite celebration cake: layers of sponge, raspberry jam and vanilla custard piled into a dome under a thick blanket of whipped cream, all wrapped in a smooth sheet of pale green marzipan and topped with a pink rose. Elegant and beloved, it is the classic birthday and party cake.

What you'll find

• The green marzipan dome - the smooth pale green cake with its pink marzipan rose.
• The layers - the sponge, jam, custard and cream inside.
• The pink rose - the marzipan flower on top.
• Cafe and celebration versions - from the corner konditori to party centrepieces.

When to go

Year-round; a slice from a good konditori is the easy way to try it, and there is a Princess Cake Week each autumn. It is the go-to celebration cake all year.

Before you go

It is sweet and rich, and the marzipan divides those who love and dislike it. A good bakery version, with real custard and cream, is far better than a cheap one. It is a slice-with-coffee treat rather than an everyday food.

Nearby

Konditori across the country serve it; it belongs with a fika and the cinnamon bun.