Pepparkakor are Swedish ginger cookies traditionally served at Christmas time. They are less sweet and have a slightly more complex flavor.
If you celebrate Christmas, then you know that now is the time to get your tree (or assemble your fake one), decorate it, string up the lights, hang your stockings, and best of all — bake Christmas cookies! Best of all, our Christmas Cookies Week sponsor, Nielsen-Massey, is giving one lucky winner a set of 8 of their extracts and flavors. See the entry widget just above the recipe to enter to win!
All this week, I and 33 other food bloggers will be posting Christmas cookie recipes, and today in particular, some of us are focusing on international cookies. Last year, I shared a favorite from my own heritage, Scottish shortbread cookies. This year, I'm going Scandinavian with Swedish ginger cookies, called Pepparkakor.
Peppar means pepper and kakor can mean cookie or cake. Modern versions of this recipe don't actually include any pepper, but the one I'm sharing does. You can also include a dash of cayenne pepper, if you like, but I thought these had great flavor without it.
They are similar to gingersnaps or gingerbread cookies that are common in the United States, and like gingerbread, this cookie dough can be cut into shapes. But as you need to work with the dough when it's very cold, I thought it would be easier to scoop and roll into balls.
Unlike American gingerbread, pepparkakor isn't usually iced or frosted for serving. They are either eaten plain, or with a sprinkle of turbinado sugar before baking.
In researching pepparkakor, I learned that it is tradition to hold a cookie in the palm of your hand. Make a wish, and with the index finger of your other hand, tap the cookie until it breaks into three pieces. Then, your wish will come true!
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Pepparkakor (Swedish Ginger Cookies)
Ingredients
- 1 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 8 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 6 tablespoon white sugar
- ¼ cup molasses
- 2 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon orange extract
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 large egg
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, combine the butter, both sugars, molasses, ginger, cinnamon, orange extract, salt, cloves, and pepper. As the butter melts, whisk until the sugar dissolves and the mixture begins to simmer. Remove from heat. Cool until just warm to the touch, about 30 minutes.
- Whisk the egg into the cooled mixture until smooth. Pour over the dry ingredients and fold with a rubber spatula until no dry flour remains. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 2 days.
- Heat the oven to 350 F with racks in the upper- and lower-middle positions. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Working with a tablespoonful of dough at a time, use dampened hands to roll into balls. Arrange 12 dough balls on each baking sheet, spacing evenly.
- Lay a sheet of plastic wrap over the balls on each sheet and use the bottom of a dry measuring cup to flatten each to about ¼ inch thick. Remove the plastic and bake until richly browned, 14 to 16 minutes, switching and rotating the baking sheets halfway through to ensure even baking. Cool on the sheet for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.
Slightly adapted from Dawn Yanagihara's recipe as seen on Christopher Kimball's Milk Street
See more Christmas Cookies:
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- Candy Cane Tassies by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies by The Bitter Side of Sweet
- Crystallized Gingerbread Chocolate Chip Cookies by Faith, Hope, Love and Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
- Dutch Speculaas Cookies by Palatable Pastime
- Easy Sugar Cookies by Bear & Bug Eats
- Empire Cookies by Red Cottage Chronicles
- Gingerbread Gooey Butter Cookies by Making Miracles
- Gingerbread Men Cookies by The Freshman Cook
- Graham Cracker Chocolate Chip Cookies by Books n Cooks
- Holiday Sugar Sprinkle Butter Cookies by Family Around the Table
- Italian Rainbow Cookies by Everyday Eileen
- Loaded Festive Chocolate Chip Cookies by Daily Dish Recipes
- Makrut Macaroons by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
- Mocha filled Sandwich Cookies by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
- Oatmeal Raisin Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Pecan Caramel Turtle Bars by Tip Garden
- Pepparkakor (Swedish Ginger Cookies) by The Redhead Baker
- Peppermint Candy Canes by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Peppermint Crinkle Cookies by Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
- Peppermint Macarons by House of Nash Eats
- Peppermint Mocha Shortbread Cookies by Cooking with Carlee
- Peppermint Shortbreads by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Pistachio Wedding Cookies by Soulfully Made
- Raspberry Filled Coconut Snowflakes by Making The Most of Naptime
- Rum Logs by Corn, Beans Pigs and Kids
- Vanilla Bean Pizzelles by Love and Confections
- White Chocolate Dipped Ginger Cookies by Kate’s Recipe Box
Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere says
We love using pepper in our gingerbread! It gives such a nice depth of flavor!
Caroline says
I love all the flavors in these, and definitely like the bit of pepper in there. Look delicious!
Kristen says
I just love snowball cookies!
Stephanie says
I made these and they're fantastic! We can't stop eating them. You can taste all the spices in every bite. I'll never make them without the orange zest and black pepper again.
Tara says
I've made the Finnish Piparkakut, but haven't tried these yet! They look wonderful. Love all those spices and such a fun tradition with making a wish.
Wendy Klik says
These sound delicious and I hope all your wishes come true.
Cindy says
I LOVE ginger cookies. These sound amazing!
Karen says
These are so perfect looking, and they sound delicious!
MaryB says
Ginger cookies!
Lauren says
Would zest work instead of extract? If so, how much would you recommend?
Coleen says
I'd use 1/2 teaspoon of orange zest.
Suky says
I used a little less flour and sugar, and didn't have any treacle. Also I forgot to add the salt, and used vanilla extract instead of orange (we had lemon extract but didn't want to open a new bottle). I think orange extract would have been nice.
I've made the dough, just resting in the fridge. Will leave it for 2 days before I follow the recipe for cooking them. Looking forward to baking them, and my wife and kids eating them.
Melanie says
I made these because they are described as "breaking into 3 pieces" which sounds like they are crunchy. I followed the recipe exactly and while the cookies are delicious and look just like the photo, they are extremely stale in texture and no part of these are crunchy in the least or break into parts when pressed. Very disappointed and I'm wondering what was left out of the original recipe...🤔
Coleen says
Hi Melanie, did you weigh your ingredients? Do you monitor your oven temperature with a thermometer? Baking recipes can be greatly affected by these. I'm not sure what you mean by "I'm wondering what was left out of the original recipe.." because I've linked to the original recipe in my post and you can see the slight changes I've made (using molasses instead of dark corn syrup, using more ground ginger and omitting the fresh ginger).
Karl-Erik says
I think they need to be thinner. 1/8 inch would be more appropriate. I'm going to test this in my next batch. They're absolutely perfect otherwise
Abigail Vestal says
Way too long cooking time! Severely burned on bottom and edges.
Coleen says
Do you have an oven thermometer to ensure your oven temperature is accurate? Your oven could run hot.
Niko says
Hi! First of all, fun that you choose Swedish baking. I found this post when trying to find an English recipe for an American friend. Anyway, as you might have realised, I'm Swedish and I just wanted to comment on a couple of things. About wishing, you only tap the pepparkaka once (and usually with a "finger knuckle ") and IF it breaks in three pieces, your wish will come true. Kids usually try and find the best place to tap the cookie to make it break in three parts.
I've also never seen a pepparkaka with any kind of sugar on top (I googled turbonado sugar and don't think I've seen it on top of anything). Not that there's anything wrong to put sugar on top of them and someone in Sweden probably do.
Well, that was my little comments, which isn't meant as criticism, by the way.
Jennifer says
Hi, could I use gf flour with this recipe instead?
Coleen says
I have no experience substituting gluten-free flours, so I'm not able to advise.
Doug says
wow! I've tried a few recipes and had "ok" results.
These are the real thing! AND, if you want to try them a little softer in the middle, just eat then the same day you make them! By tomorrow, they'll be as crunchy as the edges!
First Rate!
Thanks
Doug
Bud says
I searched for decades to find a cookie I enjoyed as a child in Germany. These cookies are as close as I have found. The only change I made was an extra 1/2 tsp of orange extract. NAILED IT! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
Bud Friley says
I need to make a correction in my previous post. I did not ADD an extra 1/2 tsp orange extract to the recipe, I INCREASED the amount from 1/4 to 1/2. Again, I can’t begin to thank You for the recipe.
Jan Van Pelt says
Why is an egg used here? It’s the only pepparkakor recipe that I know of that uses an egg.
Michele says
I made these exactly to the specifications (OK I confess I added a sprinkle of cayenne but that's it) and they came out BEAUTIFULLY. A big hit with everyone who tasted them. They are going to be a regular part of the repertoire going forward. Thanks very much for such a snappy cookie.
Marie says
These are great! Made them for my Swedish uncle. I used cake flour instead of all purpose and added 2 tbls as per instructions on the cake flour box. I used 1/2 tsp orange zest because my city seems to be out of orange extract. I reduced the sugar to 4 tablespoons and I still think they might be a bit too sweet for my uncle. But they're wonderful! Light, airy, crispy, buttery. I was skeptical about the amount of salt called for but it's perfect. I may have flattened them out too much, but actually I like them this way. I broke one on the table like the Swedish tradition and it actually did break! Thank you for such a neat recipe and fun cultural history!
Marie says
Update: my uncle really loved them! He said "these are some of the best peperkakor I've had" which is high praise. He said he ate 8 in one sitting which is also high praise for him. Great recipe! I'm adding this to our Christmas traditions 🙂