The Danish New Year’s Eve dessert made as a ring-shaped tower of pastry is kransekage. It is a marzipan-based confection formed from graduated rings, stacked into a cone or tower and often decorated with white icing.
Kransekage is closely related to the Norwegian kransekake, and the names are sometimes used interchangeably in English-language descriptions. The Danish version is especially associated with celebrations such as New Year’s Eve, weddings, and other festive gatherings. Its almond flavor and dramatic shape make it suitable for sharing at midnight.
The dessert is different from æbleskiver, which are small spherical pancake-like pastries commonly eaten in Denmark during the Christmas season. It is also distinct from risalamande, a cold rice dessert traditionally served at Christmas. Spellings vary because Danish and Norwegian use related words, but “kransekage” is the standard Danish form for the New Year confection.