Easy Homemade Lingonberry Sauce (Lingonsylt) — 3 Ingredients!
This easy homemade lingonberry sauce (lingonsylt) comes together in just 20 minutes with only 3 ingredients — no pectin needed! Simply cook down fresh or frozen lingonberries with sugar and a splash of water until thick, jammy, and perfectly spreadable. The result is a gorgeous ruby-red Swedish jam that's incredibly versatile. Fill thumbprint cookies and Finnish Christmas stars, spoon it over Swedish meatballs or roasted pork, drizzle on pancakes, or spread on warm buttered toast. Once you make this classic Scandinavian condiment from scratch, you'll never go back to store-bought!
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 62kcal
Ingredients
- 2 cups frozen lingonberries 300g
- ¾-1 cup granulated sugar 150-200g
- 2-4 tablespoons water add as needed to achieve your desired consistency
Instructions
- Add lingonberries and water to a saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook until berries begin to soften and release their juices, about 3-4 minutes.2 cups frozen lingonberries, 2-4 tablespoons water
- Stir in sugar until dissolved. Reduce heat to low and let the sauce simmer gently.¾-1 cup granulated sugar
- Continue simmering for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the berries have burst and the sauce has thickened. To test, drag a spoon through — it should leave a brief trail before filling back in.
- Remove from heat and let cool completely before serving or storing. The sauce will thicken further as it cools.
Notes
- Storage: Keeps in the fridge for 2-3 weeks, or freeze for up to a year. The natural pectin in lingonberries means no additives needed!
- Fresh or frozen: Both work perfectly. Frozen lingonberries don't need to be thawed first — just add them straight to the pot.
- Sweetness: Start with ¾ cup sugar and adjust to taste. Lingonberries are naturally tart, so they may need a little help!
- Consistency: For a thicker, spreadable sauce (great for baking), use less water and simmer longer. For a looser sauce (nice for drizzling over meatballs or pancakes), add a splash more water.
- Where to find lingonberries: Look for frozen lingonberries at Scandinavian specialty stores or online.
- Use with: This works perfectly fine for meatballs (Swedish meatballs or Norwegian meatballs!), but this sauce really shines in fillings for Nordic bakes with its jam-like consistency. Try it with our Finnish Christmas stars, swirled into our Swedish almond cake, or alongside warm Swedish cardamom buns.
Nutrition
Calories: 62kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 20mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Calcium: 0.3mg | Iron: 0.01mg