Menu: A Christmas Dinner in Iceland

Icelandic shortbread and prune jam layer cake

Shortbread and Prune Jam Layer Cake (Vínarterta)

This special-occasion cake features layers of cardamom-scented shortbread baked until golden and lightly crisp, sandwiching homemade prune filling under a thin coffee glaze.

The Menu

More About This Menu

Prepare the langoustine soup in advance since it requires a homemade stock; after removing and crushing the heads and shells of the langoustines, chill the tail meat until ready to use. Prepare the stock as instructed and reserve.
Make the shortbread layer cake dough in advance; chill the dough for at least an hour before baking.
You can substitute partridge for the grouse, or find wild grouse at exoticmeatmarkets.com »
Leaf bread, a crisp flatbread decorated with intricate designs, is a holiday tradition in Iceland. Made of a thin, waferlike dough, it's cut into geometric patterns, then deep-fried and saved to be eaten as an accompaniment to Christmas dinner. See our step-by-step guide to making it »