Swedish Almond Rusks Food

ALMOND RUSKS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar and oil. Combine flour, almonds, baking powder and salt; gradually add to sugar mixture until well combined. Chill until firm. , Divide dough into three pieces. Roll each piece into an 8-in. x 2-in. rectangle; place on a greased baking sheet. , Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until firm to the touch. Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 300°., Carefully cut each rectangle into 1/2-in. slices. Place slices cut side down on baking sheets. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.

SWEDISH ALMOND RUSKS

Steps:

• In a bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add 1 egg at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in extract. Sift together flour, cardamom and baking soda; add alternately with sour cream to creamed mixture. Fold in almonds. Divide dough into 6 parts; shape into logs (like refrigerated cookie dough). Place 3 each on 2 greased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for about 30 minutes or until light brown. , Remove logs to cutting board. Using a sharp knife, slice logs diagonally 1/2 in. thick. Place cookies on sheets; return to oven and bake until light brown. Cool; store in tightly covered containers.

SWEDISH ALMOND RUSK (MANDEL SKORPER)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Sift together flour, cardamom, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.
• Beat together butter, sugar, and extract with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in flour mixture at low speed just until combined, then stir in almonds.
• Form dough into 4 (11- by 2-inch) logs and place 2 inches apart on an ungreased large baking sheet.
• Bake logs in middle of oven until pale golden, about 20 minutes. Cool logs on sheet 5 minutes, then transfer to a cutting board and cut logs diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices with a serrated knife using a sawing motion.
• Reduce temperature to 300°F.
• Arrange rusks, cut sides down, on baking sheets and bake in batches in middle of oven until golden, about 18 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool.

GRANDMA SALLY'S SWEDISH RUSKS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9x13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
• Beat sugar, shortening, and milk together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until well combined. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Mix flour, baking powder, cardamom, and salt together in a bowl. Add to the wet ingredients in batches, mixing after each addition until incorporated. Pour batter into the prepared baking pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Run a table knife around the edges to loosen. Invert carefully onto a serving plate or cooling rack and let cool completely, about 30 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
• Cut cake into three 3-inch strips lengthwise and thirteen 1-inch strips crosswise for a total of 39 pieces. Lay pieces on their sides on 2 cookie sheets. Sprinkle the top sides of the cookies with 1/2 of the cinnamon sugar.
• Bake rusks in the 250 degrees F (120 degrees C) oven for 45 minutes. Remove from the oven, flip rusks, and sprinkle with remaining cinnamon sugar. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 more minutes.

SWEDISH ALMOND TUSKS (MANDELSKORPOR)

Steps:

• In medium bowl, combine flour, cardamom, baking powder and salt; set aside.
• In stand mixer fitted with paddle, mix butter and sugar on low speed until just combined.
• Beat on medium-high until fluffy, about 1 minute.
• Reduce to low; add vanilla.
• Add eggs one at a time until combined.
• Slowly add dry ingredients until combined.
• Stop machine and fold in nuts by hand.
• Cover dough with plastic wrap; let rest for 10 minutes.
• Line 12- by 18-inch baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Transfer dough onto lightly floured work surface and divide in two.
• Roll each portion into 14-inch log and transfer to prepared sheet. Lightly flatten logs with hands to 2-1/2 inches wide.
• Bake on middle rack until golden at edges and firm in centre, about 25 minutes.
• Cool 15 minutes; transfer to cutting board.
• With sharp serrated knife, cut into 3/4-inch thick pieces.
• Place on sheet cut side down.
• Bake on lower rack until bottoms are lightly golden, about 12 minutes.
• Flip cookies and bake on bottom rack until golden, about 10 minutes.
• Cool completely before storing in airtight container for up to one month.

SOUTH AFRICAN RUSKS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly mix the dry ingredients.
• Combine all the wet ingredients, pour them into the dry ingredients, and stir until you have a soft dough, similar to biscuit dough.
• Turn the dough onto a well-floured surface and roll or pat it to about a 1/2 inch thickness.
• Cut the dough into rectangles about 2 by 4 inches.
• Bake the rusks about 2 inches apart on buttered baking sheet for about 25 minutes until the tops are crisping and browning a little.
• Loosely pile the rusks on a baking sheet and keep them in a 200 degree oven all day or all night (about 12 hours) to dry.
• The finished rusks should be very dry and hard.
• Cool and store in an airtight container.
• Rusks will keep for weeks.
• Variations Oatmeal-Raisin Rusks: Reduce the white flour to 1 1/2 cups and add 2 cups rolled oats and 1/2 cup currants or chopped raisins.
• Almond Rusks: Add 1 cup chopped almonds and omit the cinnamon.
• Peanut Rusks: Add 1 cup coarsely chopped peanuts.