• 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 » Cuisines

    What is Fika? (Fika Meaning + Recipes)

    Published: Sep 6, 2021 · Modified: Jan 22, 2022 by Neriz

    Keep hearing about fika, but not sure what it means? This post will clear it up for you, plus traditional fika recipes that let you arrange Swedish fika without flying to Sweden!  

    Cover for FIKA Recipes, showing a collage of traditional fika treats.
    Jump to:
    • What is Swedish fika?
    • FAQs
    • Fika recipes

    What is Swedish fika?

    The usual English translation is ‘coffee break,’ but the meaning of fika is more than that.

    It’s an integral part of Swedish culture where you take the time to socialize with friends and coworkers.

    Fika means taking a break from working and sitting down to chat — all these over a cup of coffee or tea and some Swedish sweets or pastries.

    A plate of mixed Swedish treats, served with coffee and tea; for a typical Swedish fika.

    During the holiday season, it’s also normal for a colleague to bring some homemade pastries or treats like lussekatter or saffron cake for office fika — and everyone gets to try a slice.

    So, you see, the meaning of fika goes beyond a regular coffee break, which can be done alone, on your desk.

    It’s all about building a relationship.

    Now you can try having one in your part of the world, and you can choose which among these fika treats to prepare!

    An overhead shot of a combination of Swedish treats and pasties, to be enjoyed for fika.

    FAQs

    What is the origin of the word ‘fika’?

    It’s from a 19th-century slang for coffee — kaffi.

    The word is then inverted and turned into ‘fika.’

    What do Swedes eat with their fika?

    Kaffe (coffee) mostly, although tea is also quite common and some Swedish sweets.

    How long should a fika be?

    It depends on where you are. 

    At work, fika is typically arranged for thirty minutes.  We always get an invite in our calendar, so everyone shows up in the kitchen at 15:00 (3 pm).

    So,  if we are on a call or meeting, we try to wrap it up before then. 😉

    If it’s for leisure, and you’re with friends and families, then it’s all up to you on what time to end your fika.

    How to use ‘fika’ in a sentence?

    We use it both as a noun and a verb.

    For a noun, an example would be: ‘We need to arrange a fika before everyone goes on summer holiday.’

    For verb, we say ‘Let’s fika!’.

    Easy, right?

    CHECK OUT THE REST OF MY SWEDISH CUISINE SERIES!

    • Authentic Swedish Recipes
    • Traditional Swedish Desserts
    • Guide for Swedish Breakfast

    Fika recipes

    Kanelbullar (Swedish Cinnamon Buns)

    A pile of kanelbullar served with a cup of espresso and a tall glass of coffee.
    Read Recipe Here

    Hands-down, Swedish cinnamon buns — they’re always the first choice for fika.

    Suffice it to say, we love kanelbullar so much that we would gladly have it for breakfast, mid-afternoon break, or any time of the day.

    These cinnamon and cardamom-flavored sweet rolls are excellent with almost any type of beverage — and the aroma alone would invite you to sit down, enjoy a kanelbulle, and chat.

    Lussekatter (Swedish Saffron Buns)

    An overhead shot of a bunch of lussekatter on top of a baking sheet, served with a cup of coffee, dust of flour and some raisins are scattered on the side.
    Read Recipe Here

    You can tell Christmas is just around the corner when these saffron buns become available in bakeries, coffee shops, and supermarkets.

    Sometimes referred to as Sta. Lucia buns because it’s traditionally eaten on Sta. Lucia day, these treats are subtly flavored with saffron — not overpowering, but just enough to tease your tastebuds.

    Oh! Not just for fika, lussekatter are also excellent with red wine!

    Chokladbollar (Swedish Chocolate Balls) 

    Swedish Chocolate Balls in a small plate, served with a cup of espresso, and some latte.
    Read Recipe Here

    While also typically considered a popular choice for Swedish dessert, these chocolate balls have sugar, cocoa powder, and oats.

    They’re ‘no-cook,’ so even kids enjoy preparing them — and they’re semi-healthy because of the oats! 😉

    Semlor (Swedish Lent Buns)

    Swedish Lent Buns (Semlor)
    Read Recipe Here

    Another Swedish tradition, this time it’s for Easter.

    But nowadays, I noticed that I see them as early as the first week of March — regardless of whether Easter falls in April or not.

    No complaints from me, though; even better if they’re available the whole year-round.

    I will never have enough of these cardamom-flavored buns, with the almond paste filling and topped with whipped cream.  Just heavenly.

    Try them for your next fika, and I am sure you will agree with me!

    Toscabit (Swedish Almond Tart)

    Swedish Almond Tart
    Read Recipe Here

    This Swedish pastry has almond paste as the filling and is topped with more sticky, caramelized almond slices.

    The trick in making this almond tart at home is not to go overboard with all the sweet elements: the pastry dough, the filling, then the syrup on the caramelized almonds.

    But I tell you, the effort is soooo worth it.  

    I try not to make these at home too often because I cannot stop reaching for one when I see them.  Delicious.

    Kardemummakaka (Swedish Cardamom Cake)

    A shot of a slice of Swedish cardamom cake, highlighting the texture of the cake.
    Read Recipe Here

    If you want a no-fuss, easy-to-prepare cake for fika, this cardamom cake is the best one to make.

    Moist, buttery, simply delicious — and you don’t even need the additional powdered sugar on top.

    A very light cake that’s also excellent for breakfast the next day (if there’s any left!).

    Strawberry & Elderflower Tartlets

    Swedish Strawberry & Elderflower Tartlets mpic
    Read Recipe Here

    These tartlets are excellent summer pastries; elderflower on the custard for filling and fresh strawberries on top.

    If you are not a fan of elderflower, just use a bit less.  

    Trust me; it gives the custard a lighter feeling, so all you get is a perfect balance of creamy, sweet, and freshness from the strawberries.

    They even go well with a glass of rosé!  (I know, that’s not ideal for fika, but I just want to throw it out there. 😀 )

    Mumma (Swedish Almond Paste Cake)

    Freshly baked Swedish almond cakes, on a cooling rack.
    Read Recipe Here

    These are not typically found in coffee shops or bakeries; I have no idea why that is when it showcases all the well-loved ingredients of Sweden — almonds, and cardamom.

    These mini cakes are made from almond paste, which is quite different from the other almond cake typical in Sweden.

    The best part? They travel well (once completely cooled), so you can take them with you on picnics or just surprise your colleagues at work for tomorrow’s fika!

    Kärleksmums (Swedish Chocolate Coconut Cake)

    An overhead shot of Kärleksmums sliced and ready for serving.
    Read Recipe Here

    This one is such a classic it’s been called by various names. 

    Regardless of how they call it, it’s quite hard to miss in bakeries —chocolate cake topped with (more) chocolate icing and dried coconut flakes.  

    Some recipes add coffee in the icing; some just use cocoa powder.  

    The result is always a mix of bitter and sweet in every fika bite. YUM!

    Swedish Hazelnut & Cardamom Cookies

    Swedish Hazelnut & Cardamom Cookies in a stach, with bits of cardamom on top.
    Read Recipe Here

    While this is not a traditional combo, it does work wonderfully.

    Ground hazelnuts, with some bits, left for crunch, and add ground cardamom in there — and you won’t be able to stop reaching for that second piece (at least). 

    You can even dunk it in your coffee for that Italian touch. 😉

    Swedish Saffron & Pistachio Cookies

    A bowl of freshly baked Swedish Saffron Biscotti, ready for serving
    Read Recipe Here

    Traditionally, you only see these cookies with saffron, but nowadays, you see various nuts added to them as well — pistachio happens to be my favorite among those variations.

    Same with lussekatter, these saffron cookies start popping out everywhere during the holidays.

    These pistachio cookies are not just great with your usual fika beverage; they are excellent with glögg (Swedish mulled wine) as well.

    Swedish Coconut Bites

    An overhead shot of a plate of Swedish Coconut Bites, served with a cup of coffee and espresso.
    Read Recipe Here

    Another fika treat that’s also common for dessert.

    They come in various sizes, so feel free to form them as you like.

    Some just sprinkle them with powdered sugar, some with cocoa powder — both are perfect for mid-afternoon coffee break, in my opinion.

    They’re just the right amount of sugar that you need to perk up!

    So how about it? Try some (or all) of these classic fika recipes, and let me know which one is your favorite!

    Text for Roundup Sections
    • Authentic Swedish Recipes
    • Traditional Swedish Desserts

    Reader Interactions

    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