Recipe: Danish Koldskål – Chilled Buttermilk Soup

Recipe: Danish Koldskål - A refreshing delight

Homemade Danish koldskål is a chilled buttermilk soup that is enjoyed throughout the summer in Denmark. Koldskål is such an integrated part of Danish cuisine that during the summer months, you can buy readymade koldskål in most grocery stores.

While some might consider koldskål a dessert, others, including my dad, view it as a main course, and happily eat koldskål for dinner. The most basic version is just koldskål with kammerjunkere, but in my family, we’ve always been adding fresh strawberries as a topping, when available.

Koldskål is really quick and easy to make, so I hope you’ll give this recipe a try. Whether you choose to serve Koldskål for dinner or as a dessert, it’s a tasty and refreshing dish that might turn out to be a new summer favorite of yours.

Notes

Tykmælk: If you can’t find tykmælk (Danish soured milk), you can use buttermilk instead (4 cups in total). In Denmark, some people make koldskål with buttermilk only. Though if you like the consistency a little thicker, as I do, you could also add Greek yogurt, Icelandic Skyr, or low fat sour cream, instead of tykmælk.

Vanilla: After scraping out the seeds from the vanilla pod, you mix it with a little sugar. Mixing vanilla seeds with sugar helps to prevent clumping of the seeds, ensuring they are evenly dispersed throughout the mixture.If you don’t have a vanilla pod in your pantry, you can use vanilla extract instead.

Kammerjunkere: Koldskål is traditionally served with kammerjunker, which are small, sweet biscuits. You can also garnish it with fresh berries, such as strawberries or raspberries, to add a burst of color and natural sweetness.

Recipe: Kammerjunkere – Double-baked biscuits for Danish Koldskål >>

Recipe: Danish Koldskål – Chilled Buttermilk Soup

Recipe by Mitzie Mee – Sanne
Course: DessertCuisine: Denmark
Servings

4

servings

Homemade Danish koldskål is a chilled buttermilk soup that offers a refreshing respite on hot days. With its creamy texture, subtle sweetness, and tangy undertones, Koldskål is a staple in Danish households during the warmer months.

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Ingredients

  • 2 2 egg yolks

  • 4 tablespoons 4 sugar

  • 1 1 vanilla bean (or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract)

  • 2 teaspoons 2 lemon juice

  • 2 cups 2 tykmælk (Danish soured milk)

  • 2 cups 2 buttermilk

  • Strawberries for garnish

Directions

  • Preparing the Vanilla Sugar: Scrape out the seeds from the vanilla pod and use a knife or a spoon to mix the vanilla seeds with a little sugar on a cutting board.
  • In a mixing bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, and vanilla sugar, until the mixture is smooth, creamy, and light yellow. Ensure the sugar is fully blended into the egg yolks.
  • Add lemon juice to the mixture.
  • Add tykmælk (or Greek Yogurt, skyr or sour cream) and buttermilk and whisk together well.
  • Place the koldskål in the refrigerator and allow it to chill for at least an hour. Once the Koldskål has chilled, it is ready to be served. Pour it into individual serving bowls and serve with kammerjunkere and fresh strawberries.
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02/05/2026 11:01 am GMT

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Welcome to my recipe blog. This is where all the dishes I cook on repeat end up, from quick weeknight meals to the food I make when I want something a little special. So many of the recipes on this page come from people I’ve met along the way. Friends who invited me into their kitchens, showed me how they cook, and let me taste dishes that never really leave you. Some of these recipes are my own, others are inspired by meals I’ve learned from friends I’ve met all over the world. Together they’ve become a little collection of the food I love most. I hope you find something here that makes you want to try a new flavor or revisit an old favorite.

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