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Why You’ll Love My Recipe

Swedish crème is a unique custard dessert that’s halfway between a crème Brulee and a panna cotta, but unlike either of those desserts, this one doesn’t require a lot of extra steps! This simple blend of different dairies, some sugar, and a few extracts makes for a delightfully fragrant and fruity dessert!

An uncommon dessert that is sadly not seen much outside of Scandinavia and the Midwest, Swedish crème is absolutely worth making at home. Custardy, dense, and super simple and decadent—what’s not to like?

For some other similarly textured dessert recipes, why not make this Pumpkin Custard? Or try and make some Easy Tapioca Pudding instead?

Three glass cups filled with whipped cream and topped with raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries are arranged on a white tray. Extra berries are scattered around, along with bowls of berries and a pink cloth on a marble surface.

Karlynn’s Recipe Notes

Skill Level: This dessert is so easy to make that you can put your kids in charge if you like!
Total Time: You can have this dessert ready to go in just 15 minutes; perfect for a little treat!
Variations: If you’re making Swedish creme in the depths of winter when it’s hard to get fresh fruits, you can always serve this dessert with a compote made of your favorite frozen fruit. If you’re looking for a slightly different flavor profile, you can substitute the orange extract/orange liqueur for almond extract/Amaretto!
Tools For This Recipe: You will need a hand mixer and a spatula to make this recipe.

Two glasses filled with layered creamy yogurt and fresh berries—blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries—garnished with berries and mint. Bowls of berries and spoons are in the background on a white marble surface.

What You’ll Need for Ingredients

Dairy: This recipe makes use of sour cream, plain yogurt, and whipping cream, which all come together into a gorgeous creamy dessert with a subtle sweetness and a deliciously tart tang. Karlynn’s Tip: For a heartier texture and more protien, use unflavored Greek yogurt or Skyr!

Overhead view of bowls and jars containing raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, sugar, yogurt, cream, vanilla extract, and an empty glass, arranged on a white marble surface with a pink cloth in the corner.

Berries: While you could absolutely go with a singe variety of berry, a mixture adds more textures and flavors. The best choice is always to reach for anything in season for the best taste and texture. Karlynn’s Tip: If you want to make this recipe when it’s hard to get fresh berries, try making a compote with frozen ones! Frozen fruits are picked at the height of freshness, so they’ll definitely be no slouch in the delicousness department!

Flavoring: This recipe calls for vanilla extract and either orange extract or Grand Marnier liquor, which is basically orange extract dialed up to an 11 with an extra depth of flavor and a delicious boozy punch (though with just 3 tablespoons, you’re not likely to get tipsy). Pick whatever option works best for you!

How To Make Swedish Creme with Summer Berries

This is a quick overview of the recipe. The full list of ingredients & complete step-by-step instructions are in the recipe card below.

A glass bowl containing cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract sits on a marble surface next to a spoon, a jar of cream, a small bowl of blackberries, and a pink cloth napkin.

A bowl of creamy white mixture sits on a marble surface, surrounded by bowls of fresh berries, an electric mixer with beaters, and a pink cloth in the top right corner.

In a large bowl combine sour cream, yogurt, sugar, vanilla extract, and orange extract (or orange liqueur).
In a deep bowl, whip the whipping cream until light and fluffy and soft peaks form, about 3-5 minutes, then fold the prepared whipped cream into your sour cream mixture.
Pour the cream mixture into tall dessert dishes or stemless wine glasses and layer your favorite fruits in 1-2 layers depending on the depth of your vessels. Chill in the fridge before serving and top with a little extra fruit when you’re ready to take it to the table!

Two clear glasses filled with layers of creamy yogurt and mixed berries, including raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries, sit on a white marble board with extra berries and spoons in the background.

Karlynn’s Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Swedish Creme with Summer Berries

An Empty Canvas: Swedish crème is excellent as a relatively neutral base that lets a lot of other flavors shine! All sorts of fruits and compotes make excellent toppings for this rich and creamy base, so feel free to get creative! If you’re not sure what fruits to pick, reach for something sweet and juicy like ripe strawberries, cherries, blueberries, peaches, or orange slices cut into wedges! You could even use more exotic fruits like dragon fruit (also known as pitaya) and kumquats!
Add A Little Crunch: If the fruit isn’t quite enough of a textural contrast for you, consider sprinkling crushed cookie crumbs or chopped candied nuts over the top of the dessert along with the fruits! Biscoff cookies make for a delicious choice!

Three glass cups of creamy dessert topped with raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and mint leaves are arranged on a tray over a pink cloth. Loose berries and spoons are scattered on a white marble surface.

Storage Instructions

I wouldn’t recommend freezing this recipe, as the liquid will separate out of the dairy, leading to an unpleasant texture.

Refrigerator: Swedish creme can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days! Just make sure to press a layer of plastic wrap down onto the surface of the crème to keep it from forming a skin, and keep the berries separate until you’re ready to serve.

More Delicious Dessert Recipes

You can add my Strawberry Puree to cakes, pancakes, French toast, and much, much more!
Try my summery Raspberry Sauce as a topping for cheesecakes, vanilla ice cream, pancakes, and waffles!
Looking for an autumnal twist on a classic? Give my Pumpkin Bread Pudding a try!

I love simple desserts, especially when they make use of easy-to-get ingredients. This Swedish Crème is perfect for a summer barbecue or dinner party, especially because it comes together quickly enough that you can spend just a little more time with your guests and not in the kitchen!

Give this recipe a try and tell me what your favorite fresh berries are in the comments below!

Happy Cooking!

Karlynn