The ring-shaped cake traditionally served in Denmark on New Year's Eve is kransekage.
Kransekage, also called kransekake in Norway, is made from almond paste, sugar, and egg whites. It consists of concentric rings stacked into a tall cone or tower, with white icing often used to create decorative patterns. In Denmark, it is strongly associated with New Year celebrations and is commonly served with sparkling wine.
The cake’s structure is distinctive: individual rings are baked separately and then assembled from largest to smallest. Some versions include a bottle of champagne or another centerpiece inside the tower, while smaller forms may be presented as individual pieces.
Kransekage is often confused with other Danish pastries because Denmark is internationally known for baked goods. Æbleskiver are spherical pancake-like treats, risalamande is a rice dessert, and wienerbrød is a laminated pastry. None has the characteristic stacked-ring form of kransekage.