Mämmi is the Finnish Easter dessert made as a dark rye pudding and traditionally served cold. It is usually prepared from water, rye flour, and powdered malted rye, with a distinctive dark color and mildly sweet flavor.
Mämmi has long been associated with Finnish Easter, especially during Lent and the Easter season. The mixture is slowly baked so that it develops its characteristic flavor and appearance. Modern versions are commonly sold in cardboard cartons or other retail packages during the spring holiday period.
People often eat mämmi with milk or cream, and sugar may be added according to taste. Although it is a dessert, its rye and malt ingredients give it a very different profile from chocolate eggs, sweet breads, and creamy puddings found in other Easter traditions.
Mämmi is sometimes mistaken for a porridge because of its ingredients and texture. It is better described as a traditional rye-based pudding or baked dessert. Its Finnish name is commonly written with the accented letter ä, which is part of the standard spelling.