Got any leftover cake knocking about from Christmas? No need to waste it, when you can whip up a tasty treat instead – romkugler.

This sweet treat was invented by Danish bakers, says Coinneach Macleod AKA The Hebridean Baker. Instead of throwing away leftover cakes and pastries, they combined them with store cupboard ingredients, rolled them into balls and decorated them with chocolate sprinkles.

“Queues of adults and kids snapped up these cheap wee treats, which quickly became a Danish tradition,” he says.

Romkugler

Ingredients:(Makes 12)

500g Madeira cake (actually any cake will work; even better if it’s a bit stale)3tbsp raspberry jam80g icing sugar100g butter, softened3tbsp cocoa powder3tsp rum essence (or for an adult treat use real rum; you might need to add another teaspoon)

For decoration:Chocolate vermicelli, desiccated coconut or cocoa powder

Method:

1. Time to get your hands dirty! Crumble up the cake into a bowl, add the jam, icing sugar, softened butter, cocoa powder and rum essence and mix together with your hands (or a wooden spoon or a standing mixer) until evenly combined.

2. Depending on which cake you use, you might need to add a wee bit more cocoa or rum. Or you might like to add rolled oats for a wee bit of texture. Trust your taste buds!

3. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes then begin to roll the dough into balls.

4. Roll each ball in chocolate vermicelli, desiccated coconut or cocoa powder. Chill in the fridge and take them out 10 minutes before serving.

The Hebridean Baker: My Scottish Island Kitchen by Coinneach Macleod is published by Black & White Publishing, priced £25. Photography by Susie Lowe. Available now.