Pepparkakor

Pepparkakor A.K.A. Gingerbread Cookies

There are too many cookies for me to name a favorite, but if I was backed into a corner these come closest.  Every year I use a different shaped cutter, and this year I found the cutest little animal cutters from IKEA: hedgehogs, squirrels, and bears.  The recipe below is based on a recent posting in Saveur (from Vete-Katten bakery in Stockholm) but I have tweaked it to my own tastes.  Pepparkakor are light and crisp, and when they are perfect they give a satisfactory snap when bitten into or broken.

PEPPARKAKOR

Makes a lot.

3 3/4 cups flour

3 tsp ground cloves

3 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

2 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional but good!)

1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

11 tablespoons butter, softened

1 cup dark brown sugar

1/4 cup molasses

1/4 cup dark corn syrup

1/2 cup heavy cream

Sift together flour, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, cayenne, and baking soda; set aside.  In another large bowl, beat together the butter, sugar, molasses, and syrup until mixture is pale and fluffy (1-2 minutes using stand-up or hand held mixer).  Add reserved spice mixture and heavy cream in 3 alternating batches, beginning and ending with spice mix, until the dough just combines.  Divide dough in half and shape each half into flat disk.  Wrap disks in plastic wrap; refrigerate at least one hour.

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Unwrap 1 disk and place on floured work surface.  Use rolling pin to roll dough into 1/8" thickness.  Cut out cookies using cutters of choice and place 2" apart on parchment paper-lined baking sheets.  Repeat with remaining dough, re-rolling scrapes (I usually keep scrapes in separate bowl and refrigerate at least 20 minutes.  I work slowly in batches in order to get the best results.).  Bake cookies, 1 sheet at a time, until browned and set, about 12 minutes.  Transfer to cooling rack and let cool.

Frost with your favorite icing, if desired.  I like to make a simple confectioners' sugar glaze that is mixed with a bit of almond extract and juice from an orange or lemon.