Happy Marriage Cake, officially called Hjónabandssæla, is a traditional Icelandic cake. It’s unclear where the name comes from, but in my opinion, this cake has all the elements of a happy marriage – sweetness, coziness and a bit of spice. Happy Marriage Cake is made with a homemade rhubarb jam and a tasty, crumbly oatmeal top. Hugo made this cake for me for my birthday last year and it is absolutely divine.
What is a Happy Marriage Cake?
A light and delicious Icelandic cake made with rhubarb and crumbly oatmeal.
Happy Marriage Cake Ingredients
- Fresh rhubarb
- Dark sugar
- Maple syrup
- Powdered vanilla
- Sugar
- Dark sugar
- Oats
- Flour
- Cardamom
- Ginger powder
- Baking soda
- Egg
- Butter
- Icing sugar
How to make a Happy Marriage Cake, Step by Step
Prepare the rhubarb jam
- Step 1 – Heat the rhubarb with dark sugar and maple syrup on medium heat for 10 minutes.
- Step 2 – Add the vanilla and continue to cook for 10 minutes. Leave to cool then put in the fridge.
Make the cake
- Step 1 – Mix the sugar, dark sugar, oats, flour, cardamom, ginger and baking soda in the bowl of your stand alone mixer and mix with the paddle attachment on low speed.
- Step 2 – Add the egg and continue to mix.
- Step 3 – Add the butter and mix until combined. Don’t over mix.
- Step 4 – Put in a plastic wrap in refrigerate for 2 hours.
- Step 5 – Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C)
- Step 6 – Cut a third of the dough and put aside.
- Step 7 – Roll the 2/3 of the dough 1/3 inch thin and put the dough in a 8 inches pastry ring. Add the rhubarb jam.
- Step 8 – Add the rest of the dough over the jam by making some small pieces.
- Step 9 – Bake for 25 minutes. Leave to cool.
- Step 10 – Sprinkle with icing sugar.
Make this Hjónabandssæla your own!
Add your own twist to the recipe…
- The traditional recipe calls for rhubarb but you could absolutely use another fruit if you prefer, such as apple, blueberry, raspberry or a mixture of fruits.
For more Icelandic culinary inspiration, make sure you check out these 7 dishes you have to eat in Iceland (via Vogue).
More Desserts to Try
- Kanelsnegle – You will fall in love with these Danish cinnamon rolls!
- Schaum Torte – The Austrian version of a pavlova is crunchy on the outside, smooth on the inside and topped with fresh plums!
- Chocolate Dipped Madeleines – Who can resist French madeleines dipped in rich dark chocolate?
- Moelleux au Chocolat – Just 5 ingredients, this quintessential French chocolate cake is a show stopper!
- Fresh Strawberry Pie – Perfect for Summer, this pie is bursting with fresh strawberries on a tasty homemade shortbread crust.
- Almond Butter Cookies – these healthier cookies feature almond butter as the star ingredient.
- Orange Chocolate Fudge – this simple rich and creamy is divine!
- Mediterranean Desserts – a collection of 30 Mediterranean dessert recipes you can make at home!
- Japanese Desserts – a collection of 32 Japanese dessert recipes you can make at home!
- Financier Recipes – 7 recipes we love.
Happy Marriage Cake (Hjónabandssæla)
This heavenly combination of rhubarb jam and oats in this simple Icelandic cake is pure Heaven!
If you love this recipe, please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pin for later!
Happy Marriage Cake (Hjónabandssæla)
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: For 4 people 1x
Description
Traditional Icelandic Happy Marriage Cake made with rhubarb and oats. So tasty!
Ingredients
For the rhubarb jam
- 1 lbs of rhubarb (peeled and diced)
- 1/4 cup of dark sugar
- 2 tbsp of maple syrup
- 1/4 tsp of vanilla powder
For the cake
- 1/4 cup of sugar
- 2 tbsp of dark sugar
- 3/4 cup of oats
- 1 cup of flour
- 1/2 tsp of cardamom
- 1 tsp of ginger powder
- 1/2 tsp of baking soda
- 1 egg (beaten)
- 1 stick of butter (softened and diced)
- 1 tsp of icing sugar
Instructions
Prepare the rhubarb jam
- Step 1 – Heat the rhubarb with dark sugar and maple syrup on medium heat for 10 minutes.
- Step 2 – Add the vanilla and continue to cook for 10 minutes. Leave to cool then put in the fridge.
Make the cake
- Mix the sugar, dark sugar, oats, flour, cardamom, ginger and baking soda in the bowl of your stand mixer and mix with the paddle attachment on low speed.
- Add the egg and continue to mix.
- Add the butter and mix until combined. Don’t over mix!
- Put in a plastic wrap in refrigerate for 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C)
- Cut a third of the dough and put aside.
- Roll the 2/3 of the dough 1/3 inch thin and put the dough in a 8 inches pastry ring. Add the rhubarb jam.
- Add the rest of the dough over the jam by making some small pieces.
- Bake for 25 minutes. Leave to cool.
- Sprinkle with icing sugar.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Cuisine: Icelandic
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