Swedish Christmas Cookies are a delightful and festive assortment of traditional Scandinavian treats that bring warmth and joy to any holiday gathering. These buttery, delicate cookies are often infused with cozy spices like cardamom or cinnamon and filled with tart fruit preserves, making them perfect for gifting, sharing, or pairing with a warm cup of coffee or glögg. Whether you’re baking for family, friends, or a cookie exchange, these cookies are sure to become a cherished part of your holiday traditions.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Authentic Holiday Flavor: Packed with warming spices and nostalgic aromas, these cookies evoke the magic of the holiday season.
- Perfect for Family Baking: Simple and hands-on, this recipe is ideal for involving kids in the kitchen.
- Versatile and Festive: From jam-filled thumbprints to spiced cut-outs, there’s something for everyone.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: The dough can be prepared in advance and frozen, making entertaining stress-free.
- Ideal for Gifting: Beautifully shaped and lightly sweetened, these cookies make thoughtful gifts.
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
To create these mouthwatering cookies, you’ll need a few simple pantry staples and optional extras for added flair:
- Unsalted Butter: Softened butter ensures a smooth, light texture.
- Granulated Sugar: Provides the perfect level of sweetness.
- All-Purpose Flour: Forms the base of the dough.
- Egg Yolks: Adds richness and structure.
- Vanilla Extract: For a classic, comforting flavor.
- Ground Cardamom or Cinnamon (Optional): Infuses the cookies with a hint of spice.
- Baking Powder: Helps the cookies rise slightly for a soft bite.
- Raspberry Jam or Other Fruit Preserves: Perfect for filling thumbprint cookies.
- Powdered Sugar: For dusting or creating a light icing.
- Sliced Almonds (Optional): Adds a decorative touch and crunch.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Make the Dough
Begin by creaming together softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. This step is crucial as it incorporates air into the dough, ensuring a tender texture.
Next, beat in one large egg yolk and a teaspoon of vanilla extract. If you’d like to add a hint of spice, mix in half a teaspoon of ground cardamom or cinnamon at this stage. Gradually add two cups of all-purpose flour and a pinch of salt, mixing on low speed until a soft, cohesive dough forms.
2. Chill the Dough
Divide the dough into two equal portions and shape each into a flat disk. Wrap the disks tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour. Chilling the dough helps prevent spreading during baking and enhances the cookies’ texture.
3. Shape the Cookies
Once chilled, roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about ¼-inch thickness. Use festive cookie cutters to create shapes like stars, hearts, or snowflakes. Alternatively, roll the dough into small balls for thumbprint cookies or crescents for a more rustic look.
For thumbprint cookies, press your thumb gently into the center of each ball and fill the indentation with a dollop of raspberry jam or another fruit preserve. Be careful not to overfill, as the jam may bubble and spread during baking.
4. Bake
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking. Arrange the shaped cookies on the prepared sheets, leaving about an inch of space between each one to allow for slight expansion.
Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Avoid overbaking, as these cookies should remain soft and delicate.
5. Cool and Decorate
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, dust them generously with powdered sugar for a festive finish. For extra flair, drizzle with icing or sprinkle with sliced almonds.
Servings and Timing
- Servings: Approximately 30–36 cookies
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Chill Time: 1 hour
- Bake Time: 10–12 minutes per batch
- Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
This recipe is designed to yield a generous batch, making it perfect for holiday gatherings or cookie trays. If you’re short on time, prepare the dough in advance and bake the cookies later.
Variations to Try
- Hallongrottor (Raspberry Thumbprints): Classic Swedish jam-filled cookies.
- Pepparkakor: Thin, spiced ginger cookies shaped like hearts or stars.
- Spritzkakor: Pressed cookies with almond or vanilla flavoring.
- Drömmar (Swedish Dream Cookies): Light and crumbly with a hint of vanilla.
- Bondkakor: Farmer’s cookies featuring chopped nuts and brown sugar.
Feel free to experiment with different shapes, fillings, and decorations to suit your taste and style.
Storage and Freezing Tips
- Storage: Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- Freezing: Freeze baked cookies for up to two months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
- Make-Ahead Dough: The dough can be chilled for up to three days or frozen for later use. Simply thaw overnight in the refrigerator before shaping and baking.
Proper storage ensures your cookies stay fresh and delicious, whether you’re enjoying them immediately or saving them for later.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What’s the most traditional Swedish Christmas cookie?
A: Pepparkakor (ginger snaps) and Hallongrottor (raspberry thumbprints) are two of the most iconic.
Q: Can I make these gluten-free?
A: Yes! Substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend designed for baking.
Q: Do I need to chill the dough?
A: Yes, chilling helps the cookies hold their shape and improves texture.
Q: Can I use different jams?
A: Absolutely! Raspberry, lingonberry, apricot, and cherry jams all work beautifully.
Q: Are these cookies very sweet?
A: They’re lightly sweetened, making them perfect for pairing with coffee or tea.
Q: Can I double the batch?
A: Yes, the recipe scales up easily for larger cookie trays or gifting.
Q: Can kids help with this recipe?
A: Definitely! Shaping and filling cookies is a fun activity for little helpers.
Q: How do I prevent jam from leaking?
A: Don’t overfill the thumbprints, and ensure the jam is thick rather than runny.
Q: Can I ice or decorate these cookies?
A: Yes! Powdered sugar icing, drizzled chocolate, or festive sprinkles all add charm.
Q: What should I serve them with?
A: Pair these cookies with glögg, coffee, or hot chocolate for a cozy experience.
Conclusion
Swedish Christmas Cookies are a heartwarming tradition that brings the flavors of a Scandinavian holiday into your home. With their buttery texture, seasonal spices, and charming designs, these cookies are a must-bake during the festive season. Whether you’re crafting them for a cookie exchange, gifting them to loved ones, or simply enjoying them by the fire, they’re sure to delight everyone who tastes them.
Let these enchanting treats become a cherished part of your holiday celebrations, filling your home with the aroma of freshly baked goodness and the joy of shared moments. Happy baking!
Swedish Christmas Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom (optional)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- raspberry jam or other fruit preserves (for thumbprints)
- powdered sugar, for dusting
- sliced almonds (optional for decoration)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy using an electric mixer.
- Beat in the egg yolk, vanilla extract, and ground cardamom (if using) until well combined.
- Gradually mix in the all-purpose flour and salt on low speed until a soft dough forms.
- Divide the dough into two equal portions, shape into flat disks, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Once chilled, roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to create festive shapes, or roll into small balls for thumbprint cookies.
- For thumbprint cookies, press your thumb gently into the center of each ball and fill the indentation with a small dollop of raspberry jam or another fruit preserve.
- Place the shaped cookies on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Avoid overbaking to keep the cookies soft.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled, dust the cookies with powdered sugar or decorate with sliced almonds as desired.