In Danish Christmas tradition, a single almond is hidden in rice pudding for one guest to find.
The dessert is usually risalamande, a cold rice pudding mixed with whipped cream, chopped almonds and vanilla, often served with warm cherry sauce. Although its name resembles the French riz à l’amande, the dish is a particularly recognizable part of Danish Christmas Eve meals.
The hidden whole almond creates a small festive contest. Whoever discovers it may receive a marzipan pig or another prize, depending on the family. Chopped almonds are mixed throughout the pudding, so finding the intact almond is not simply a matter of seeing the pieces.
A common mistake is to describe the custom as hiding a nut in any Danish dessert. The tradition specifically centers on a whole almond in rice pudding, and the prize is usually awarded to the finder even if the almond is discovered accidentally.