• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Food and Journeys

International Recipes from Around the World

  • RECIPE CATEGORIES
  • WORLD CUISINES
  • HOW-TOS
  • ABOUT
    • About Me
    • Notes on Copyright
    • Privacy Policy
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Cuisines
  • How-Tos
  • Guides
  • Subscribe!
  • About Me
  • Policy
  • Copyright
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Cuisines
    • How-Tos
    • Guides
    • Subscribe!
    • About Me
    • Policy
    • Copyright
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Pies

    Swedish Cheese Pie (Västerbottenostpaj)

    Published: Mar 2, 2020 · Modified: Sep 11, 2021 by Neriz

    • 2
    Jump to Recipe

    A favorite dish for Swedish Midsummer, Västerbottenostpaj (Cheese Pie), can easily be prepared in the comfort of your home.  Creamy, nutty, and simply delicious — reaching for a second slice is already a given! 

    An overhead shot of Swedish Cheese Pie, with a slice cut, ready for serving.

    (*This post contains some affiliate links)

    Västerbottenost is hands down, my favorite Swedish cheese. Nutty, not too salty, and with a slight bitterness at the end. 

    But wait!  Gruyere is also an excellent substitute for it.  

    Both cheese work so well with this easy-to-make cheese pie recipe because it balances out the creaminess, and it does not make this dish heavy at all. 

    IF YOU WANT MORE AUTHENTIC SWEDISH RECIPES, THEN YOU WILL LIKE THESE POSTS!

    • Pyttipanna (Swedish Hash)
    • Swedish Cinnamon Buns (Kanelbullar)

    Ingredients

    An image showing all the ingredients needed to make your own cheese pie at home.
    • Flour – you need all-purpose flour for preparing the cheese pie pastry.
    • Butter – unsalted and chilled for the pastry as well.
    • Eggs – three eggs for the filling of the pie.
    • Cream – you can use either light cream (half & half) or heavy cream (double cream); it’s up to you.

    I use whatever I have on hand. But if you want the cheese pie to be really creamy, you should use heavy cream instead.

    • Ground black pepper – for seasoning.
    • Cheese – I am fully aware that Västerbottenost is hard to find outside the Nordics, but don’t you worry, Gruyere will work great for this recipe as well.  

    I often used both interchangeably.

    • Chives – you only need this for garnish.
    An overhead shot of a freshly baked Swedish Cheese Pie.

    Preparation

    Start with the pastry dough by combining flour, chilled butter, and one tablespoon of cold water.  You can do this manually or by using a food processor (photo 1).

    Mix until they’re just barely combined, and form the dough into a disc.  Wrap the disc in plastic and place in the refrigerator to chill for thirty minutes (photo 2).

    Roll and place the dough in an 8-inch pie tin.  Place the tin in the freezer for thirty minutes. 

    First part of collage of images showing the step by step process on how to make Swedish Cheese Pie.

    While the dough is still in the freezer, preheat the oven to 220°C (425°F).  

    Take the pie tin out of the freezer and use a fork to make holes in the dough. Place pie tin in the oven for twelve to fifteen minutes.  Set aside to cool.

    Adjust the oven temperature to 200°C (375°F).

    Using a large mixing bowl, combine grated cheese, pepper, eggs, and cream.  Mix until they’re evenly combined (photo 3).

    Second part of a collage of images showing the step by step process on how to make Swedish Cheese Pie.

    Pour the cheese mixture into the cooled, prebaked pastry.  This amount of filling is perfect for an 8-inch pie pan (photo 4).

    Place cheese pie in the oven for forty to forty-five minutes or until the cheese mixture has solidified.  

    Set aside to cool down for at least twenty minutes.  Garnish with chopped chives and serve.

    An overhead shot of a slice of Swedish Cheese Pie, served on a plate, with chives on top.

    Helpful tips

    • You can replace the pastry dough with your favorite one, but do NOT skip the prebaking.  It’s an important step to prevent the pastry from getting mushy once we add the mixture.
    • Use a whisk to mix the cheese mixture; it makes combining it easier.  However, you will not whip the cream; just combine it evenly with the cheese and eggs.
    • A 9-inch pie tin will also work for this cheese pie recipe, but a 10-inch pie form is not advisable.  You will end up with a filling that’s a bit too thin.
    A closer shot of a slice of Swedish Cheese Pie, highlighting the creamy texture of the pie.
    • Do not hesitate to cover the top with an aluminum foil if you think the cheese pie is getting too dark too quickly.  I usually cover mine after twenty minutes and remove the foil for the last five minutes.

    Looks absolutely delicious right? So, give this Swedish cheese pie recipe a try and let me know! 🙂

    Text for Roundup Sections
    • Authentic Swedish Recipes
    • Traditional Swedish Desserts
    An overhead shot of Swedish Cheese Pie, with a slice cut, ready for serving.

    Swedish Cheese Pie

    No need to travel to Sweden on Midsummer to enjoy this traditional dish. You can enjoy Västerbottenostpaj (Cheese Pie), in the comfort of your home.  Creamy, nutty, delicious, and so easy to prepare!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Swedish
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 324kcal
    Author: Neriz

    Equipment

    • Mixing Bowls
    • Pyrex Measuring Cups
    • Food Processor
    • Rolling Pin
    • Pie Dish/Tin/Form (8-inch, removable bottom)
    • Rubber Spatula

    Ingredients

    • 125 grams butter, chilled (about 1/2 cup)
    • 1 cup flour
    • 1 tbsp water, cold
    • 3 cups Gruyere or Västerbottenost, grated
    • 3 large eggs
    • 200 ml cream (about 3/4 cups & 2 tbsp)
    • dash ground pepper

    Instructions

    For the Pastry Dough:

    • Combine the flour, chilled butter, and 1 tbsp of cold water in a food processor.  Mix until they're barely combined, do not over mix.  You can also do this manually.
    • Form a disc with the dough and wrap it in plastic.  Place the disc in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
    • Take the dough out of the refrigerator.  Using a rolling pin, flatten the dough and place it in an 8-inch pie form.  
    • Trim the sides and place the pie form in the freezer for 30 minutes.
    • While the dough is still in the freezer, preheat the oven to 220°C (425 °F).
    • Make holes in the dough by pricking it randomly with a fork.  
    • Place dough in the oven for 12 to 15 minutes.  
    • Set aside to cool.

    For the Cheese Filling:

    • Adjust oven temperature to 200°C (375°F).
    • In a large bowl, combine cheese, pepper, eggs, and cream.  Use a whisk to mix evenly.
    • Pour cheese mixture into the prebaked pastry.
    • Place pie form in the oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the mixture has solidified.
    • Take cheese pie out of the oven and set aside for at least 20 minutes.
    • Garnish with chopped chives and serve.

    Notes

    • Cook’s Tip #1:  If you have a go-to savory pie dough recipe, feel free to use that.  Just do NOT skip the prebaking step.  It helps in preventing the pastry from getting mushy.
    • Cook’s Tip #2:  You can use a light cream or a heavy cream; it depends on the creaminess you prefer.
    • Cook’s Tip #3:  Use a whisk to mix the cheese mixture evenly.
    • Cook’s Tip #4:  This recipe is perfect for an 8-inch pie form but would also work for 9-inch pans. 10-inch pans would result in a cheese filling that is too thin.
    • Cook’s Tip #5:  Depending on your oven, if you see that the top is getting too dark, cover it with an aluminum foil and remove the foil during the last five minutes of the baking time.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 324kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 128mg | Sodium: 210mg | Potassium: 70mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 886IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 356mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @foodandjourneys or tag #foodandjourneys!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says

      July 30, 2018 at 10:34 am

      5 stars
      This looks like such a delicious pie – perfect for the summer season! Definitely going to have to try this with some salad.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Neriz

    Hej there!

    A smorgasbord of traditional and delicious international recipes awaits you, so feel free to look around and pick your favorites. No need to leave your kitchen to experience the real deal!

    Learn more about me →

    Image for listing as-featured-on

    For Your Sweet Tooth!

    Cover image for Traditional German Desserts and Recipes, showing a collage of German sweets and treats.
    A collage of images showing a variety of traditional Swedish desserts.
    A collage of images showing authentic Italian cookies.
    Feature image for post for Fika meaning and recipes, showing a collage of Swedish treats.

    Readers’ Favorite Cuisines

    Latest cover (May22) of Easy Spanish Recipes, showing a collage of traditional Spanish dishes.
    Cover image for Easy Thai Recipes, showing a collage of classic Thai dishes.
    Latest cover for Authentic Swedish Recipes Post showing a collage of classic Swedish dishes.
    Latest cover for Authentic German Recipes Post (Oct 2021), showing a collage of classic German dishes.
    Cover for Traditional Italian Regional Recipes, showing a collage of savory regional dishes.
    Jun2021, latest collage of images showing different traditional Portuguese dishes.

    Popular Posts

    Freshly baked Swedish almond cakes, on a cooling rack.

    Swedish Almond Cake (Mumma)

    Swedish Almond Tart

    Swedish Almond Tart

    A shot of a pan of Arroz de Tomate, fresh out of the stove, highlighting the sauce and the bits of tomatoes and parsley leaves.

    Portuguese Tomato Rice (Arroz de Tomate)

    An overhead shot of a basket of Biscotti Regina, served with coffee.

    Sicilian Sesame Seed Cookies (Biscotti Regina)

    An overhead shot of a freshly baked Italian Apple Cake, with powdered sugar and fresh apples on the side.

    Torta di Mele (Tuscan Apple Cake)

    An overhead shot of a bunch of freshly baked taralli, served with a shot of espresso, with scaterred fennel seeds on the background.

    Taralli (Italian Crackers)

    An image showing two bowls of Finnish Salmon Soup served with some bread.

    Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto)

    An overhead shot of three pieces of Italian breakfast pastries, served with espresso.

    Italian Cream Filled Pastry (Pasticciotto)

    Favorite Soups!

    Feature image for Roasted Eggplant Soup, showing it in a bowl, with some bread on the side.

    Turkish-Style Roasted Eggplant Soup

    A serving of Greek Chickpea Soup, with some kalamata olives on the side.

    Greek Chickpea Soup

    Two bowls of Portuguese Green Soup, with some raw kale on the countertop.

    Portuguese Green Soup (Caldo Verde)

    An overhead shot of a bowl of Lebanese Sour Lentil Soup, with slices of lemon on the side, and a bunch of fresh coriander.

    Lebanese Sour Lentil Soup (Adas Bhamod)

    An overhead shot of Creamy Celeriac Soup, garnished with dill, ready for serving.

    Turkish Celeriac Soup

    An overhead shot of a bowl of yellow pepper soup, garnished with croutons and fresh parsley.

    Yellow Pepper Soup

    An overhead shot of a pot of Minestrone alla Milanese, ready for serving, with carrots, basil and cheese on the side.

    Minestrone alla Milanese (Summer Minestrone)

    Two servings of German Potato Soup (Kartoffelsuppe). Both creamy potato soup servings are garnished with spring onions.

    German Potato Soup (Kartoffelsuppe)

    Two bowls of German Goulash Soup, ready for serving, with a slice of bread on the side.

    German Goulash Soup (Gulaschsuppe)

    An image showing two bowls of Finnish Salmon Soup served with some bread.

    Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto)

    Hearty Stews

    Feature image of Spanish Chorizo and Chickpea Stew, showing a serving of the dish, with slices of bread.

    Spanish Chorizo and Chickpea Stew

    Feature image for Lebanese Chicken Stew with Vegetables, showing a serving of the dish, with fresh lemon next to it.

    Lebanese Chicken Stew with Vegetables

    Feature image for Spanish Beef Stew, showing a serving of the dish, with bread on the side.

    Spanish Beef Stew (Easy Stovetop Recipe!)

    An overhead shot of a bowl of Swedish stew, with some boiled potatoes and pickled beets on the side.

    Swedish Beef Stew (Kalops)

    Overhead shot of a serving of Tuscan beef stew, served with toasted bread.

    Tuscan Beef Stew with Red Wine (Peposo)

    An image showing a serving of Ethiopian Spicy Pumpkin Stew, with the skillet on the back.

    Ethiopian Spicy Pumpkin Stew (Duba Wat)

    An overhead shot of a serving of authentic chicken cacciatore.; served with some bread.

    Easy Chicken Cacciatore

    Ossobuco

    Ossobuco

    Traditional Pasta Dishes

    Feature image for Gorgonzola Pasta with Peas, highlighting the creaminess of the sauce.

    Pasta with Gorgonzola Sauce & Peas

    Feature image for pasta alla sorrentina, highlighting the melted cheese on top.

    Pasta alla Sorrentina

    Feature image for Pasta alla Gricia, showing a serving of the dish, topped with grated pecorino and ground black pepper.

    Pasta alla Gricia (Guanciale Pasta)

    Feature image for bucatini all'Amatriciana, showing it served on a plate, with freshly grated pecorino Romano on top.

    Bucatini all’Amatriciana (Pasta with Guanciale and Tomatoes)

    Feature image for spaghetti alle vongole, showing the dish on a plate, for serving.

    Spaghetti alle Vongole (Pasta with Clams)

    Feature image for traditional pasta alla norma, showing the dish garnished with freshly grated ricotta salata.

    Traditional Pasta alla Norma (Sicilian Eggplant Pasta)

    Feature image for Pasta with Bell Peppers, showing the dish on a plate, garnished with parsley.

    Pasta with Bell Peppers

    Overhead shot of a bowl of Risoni Pasta Salad, garnished with more fresh basil.

    Risoni Salad

    Footer

    Policy

    • Privacy Policy

    Contact

    • About Me

    Copyright

    • Notes on Copyright

    A participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Copyright © 2022 · FOOD AND JOURNEYS