Indulge in the rich and spicy flavors of traditional Swedish Pepparkakor cookies. These crispy treats are perfect for the holiday season or any time you crave a sweet and aromatic snack. With just the right amount of ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, these cookies will transport you to a cozy Swedish winter. Bake a batch of Pepparkakor cookies today and enjoy the warmth of these delightful treats!
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1¼ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup dark molasses
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1½ teaspoons ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Directions
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and molasses, and mix well to combine.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, baking soda, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until well combined.
- Divide the dough into two equal portions and shape each portion into a disc.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of about 1/8 inch (3 mm).
- Use cookie cutters of your choice to cut out shapes from the dough.
- Transfer the cut-out cookies to the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are lightly golden.
- Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes.
- Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once the cookies are cooled, dust them with powdered sugar before serving.
Interesting Facts
Pepparkakor cookies are a classic Swedish Christmas tradition.
These cookies are often enjoyed with a cup of coffee or glögg, a Swedish mulled wine.
In Sweden, it's common to hang Pepparkakor cookies on the Christmas tree as decorations.