Swedish Cardamom Cookies Food

SWEDISH HAZELNUT & CARDAMOM COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180-degrees C (350-degrees F).

SWEDISH CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk the flour, cardamom, and salt in a bowl.
• Put the butter and confectioners' sugar in a food processor, and process until smooth. Pulse in the egg, vanilla, and lemon zest until combined. Add the flour mixture and process to make a soft buttery dough. Divide the dough in half onto 2 (12-inch long) sheets of plastic wrap. Using the plastic, shape into rough logs. Refrigerate the dough logs for 30 minutes until just firm enough to shape into uniform logs, 8-inches long by 2-inches in diameter. Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Scatter either the sanding sugars or toasted nuts on a work surface and roll the logs until completely coated. Cut into 1/4-inch thick cookies and space about 1 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until golden around the edges, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool cookies on the pan on wire racks. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

SWEDISH CARDAMOM BUNS

Steps:

• Prepare the dough: In a small saucepan set over medium-low heat, bring the milk to 105 to 110 degrees. Remove it from the heat and pour it into a small bowl. Sprinkle the yeast on top, give it a quick whisk and let it rest a few minutes to dissolve and activate. If the yeast looks like it's clumping, whisk it gently.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine the flour, sugar, butter, cardamom, salt and the yeasted milk. Mix on the lowest setting until just combined and beginning to form a dough, 1 to 2 minutes. Continue on low to knead dough, about 2 minutes. It should go from shaggy and coarse to smooth and shiny. Working inside the bowl, give the dough a couple more kneads by hand to bring it together. You can also knead the dough entirely by hand on a work surface. (It'll take 8 minutes or so.)
• Line a 9-by-13-inch quarter sheet pan with parchment paper and dump the kneaded dough out onto it. Using your hands, pat and shape the dough into a large rectangular block. Make 4 or 5 shallow, 1/4-inch-deep slashes in the dough with a knife. Cover the baking sheet with a damp kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and transfer the dough to the refrigerator to chill for 2 hours.
• Make the filling: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, sugar, cardamom and salt on low speed just to form a granular paste. (It should resemble marzipan.) Don't overbeat it: You don't want it to be too soft or get fluffy. You can also do this by hand in a bowl, combining the ingredients with a spatula or bench scraper.
• Line two 13-by-18-inch baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator - it will have risen, but don't be surprised if the rise isn't significant - and let sit at room temperature for a few minutes so it's not so stiff that you can't roll it out. Place the dough on a thick silicone mat or a very lightly floured work surface and use a rolling pin to roll it out to a roughly 15-by-18-inch rectangle a little more than 1/8-inch thick, with the shorter side facing you. As you roll it in both directions, pause occasionally between rolls to relax the dough by patting it, lifting it and pulling it to straighten out any ripples.
• Dot the surface of the dough with mounds of the filling. Using an offset spatula, gently spread the filling all over the surface of the dough.
• With the short side of the dough facing you, fold the top third of the dough down over the middle third of the dough, then fold the bottom third up to cover the remaining dough.
• Go over the dough with the rolling pin a couple of times, vertically, to flatten the edges, and stretch it a few more inches before cutting and shaping. You want a 12-by-16-inch rectangle (the longer side will be facing you). If any filling oozes out, use your offset spatula to remove it so your workstation doesn't get sticky.
• Using the straight edge of a ruler and a pastry cutter (or very gently using a small, sharp knife), trim any uneven edges. Cut the dough vertically into 16 1-by-12-inch-long strips. Starting from the end, gently wrap one strip around the tips of your index, middle and fourth finger (or just the index and middle if you've got strong hands), like a bandage, two or three times, letting the dough overlap and working cautiously so it doesn't tear. Place your thumb on top of the wrapped dough, on the side closer to your wrist, to secure the shape, then loop the remaining end of the strand over and through the center of the bun, tucking it under at the base of the bun. You should have a rounded bun made out of bandage-like strips. The knotted part will be unexposed, hidden at the bottom.
• Place each bun on the prepared baking sheets as you go, patting it down for a flatter shape. Space the buns evenly (you can eyeball it). Leave them to proof at room temperature, uncovered, for about 1 hour. They should expand and soften.
• Meanwhile, heat oven to 450 degrees.
• Finish the buns: In a small bowl, using a fork or whisk, beat the egg together with 1 tablespoon water until well combined and frothy.
• Grind the cardamom pods in a spice grinder, making sure you break down the tough outer husks. Transfer the ground spice to a small bowl and whisk it together with the sugar.
• Lightly brush each bun with the egg wash, and generously sprinkle the tops of the buns with the cardamom sugar, using about 1/2 teaspoon per bun.
• Bake for 8 minutes, then lower temperature to 375 degrees, rotate trays completely (180 degrees and top to bottom, bottom to top) and continue baking for an additional 12 minutes. The surface of the buns should be golden brown. (Some butter may seep out of the buns and pool - that's normal - but if you're worried that it will burn on the trays, cover the buns with parchment paper toward the end of baking, once they've reached the desired color.)
• Let the buns cool for 10 minutes before eating, so the spiced, sweet buttery goo that pools around their edges can harden into crispy candylike edges, or let them cool entirely.

TRADITIONAL SWEDISH PEPPARKAKOR

Steps:

• Sift the flour together with the baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and cardamom in a mixing bowl.
• Beat the butter together with the white and brown sugars in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Mix in the egg and corn syrup until smooth. Gradually stir in the flour mixture until evenly blended. Divide the dough into 4 equal portions and wrap tightly each with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 1 hour, or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease baking sheets.
• Using 1 portion at a time, work on a floured surface and roll out dough to 1/8 inch thick. Cut into shapes with cookie cutter, and place 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets.
• Bake in preheated oven until set, about 5 minutes. Cool completely. Store in tightly covered tins.

CRISPY SWEDISH CARDAMOM COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat the butter and sugar together for 2-3 minutes, until light and fluffy. Make sure you scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl.
• In a small bowl, beat 1 egg. Add the baking ammonia and stir to dissolve. Add the mixture to the butter and beat.
• Add the flour to the bowl but don't mix it in. Use a small spoon to stir the salt, cinnamon, and cardamom into the flour. Beat the flour into the dough. Don't over mix.
• Chill the dough for 2-3 hours (or you can leave it in the fridge for 2-3 days).
• When you are ready to bake the cookies, let the dough sit on the counter for a few minutes until it is workable.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2-3 baking sheets with parchment paper or silpats .
• Split the dough in half. Sprinkle flour onto a work surface.
• Use your hands to flatten the dough, then use a rolling pin to roll the dough out very thin, about 1/8 inch.
• Use a 2-inch biscuit cutter to shape the cookies. Use a spatula to transfer the rounds to the prepared baking sheets. They do not rise much at all, so you can fit them pretty close together.
• Keep re-rolling the scraps until it's gone. Repeat with the other half of the dough.
• In a small bowl, lightly beat 1 egg. Use a pastry brush to brush the top of each cookie. Don't be shy; use a lot. See photos.
• Bake the cookies at 350 for 8-10 minutes. They should be lightly browned on the edges.

SWEDISH CARDAMOM MEATBALLS

Steps:

• In large mixing bowl, soak bread crumbs in milk for 5 minutes. Mix in meat, eggs, and chopped onions. Season with cardamom and salt and pepper to taste. Roll into 1 to 1 1/2 inch meatballs.
• Saute meatballs in 1/4 cup butter for approximately 20 minutes.
• In a separate skillet, saute sliced onions with 1/4 cup butter and sugar until caramelized, about 10 to 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Remove mixtures (the meatballs and the onions) from both pans, and place on separate plates. Deglaze both saute pans with the remaining 1/2 cup butter and beef broth, scraping up the browned bits. Cook over high heat for 1 minute.
• Place the contents of both saute pans into one large pot, and stir in the cream and onions. Season with gravy maker seasoning, monosodium glutamate, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, and cloves. Bring to a simmer. Make a slurry with cornstarch and water; whisk the slurry into the cream sauce. Add meatballs, and simmer approximately 20 to 30 minutes.

SWEDISH CARDAMOM COOKIES

Steps:

• Place the butter and icing sugar in a food processor, and process until smooth.
• Pulse in the egg, vanilla, cardamom and zest until combined.
• Add the flour and process to make a soft dough.
• Divide dough in half,place onto two (12- inch long) sheets of plastic wrap, using the plastic, shape into 8-inches long by 2-inches in diameter logs.
• Refrigerate the dough logs for 2 hours or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Scatter either the coloured sugars or toasted nuts on a work surface and roll the logs until completely coated.
• Cut into 1/4-inch thick cookies and space about 1 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets.
• Bake until golden around the edges, about 20 to 25 minutes.
• Cool cookies on the pan. Remove to airtight container.

CARDAMOM COOKIES

Steps:

• Beat the butter and sugar together until combined. Then add the eggs in one at a time and mix.
• Slowly pour in the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and the 1/2 t. of cardamom.
• Chill the dough in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours. Don't skip this step!
• When you are read to bake the cookies preheat the oven to 325.
• Combine the remaining 1 t. cardamom with the 3 T. of sugar on a plate.
• Roll the dough into balls about 1 inch in diameter and roll in the cardamom/sugar mixture. Space the balls about 2 inches apart because they will spread.
• Place on cookies sheets lined with parchment paper and bake for 12-15 minutes,until the edges are just starting to brown.

SWEDISH CARDAMOM MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Soak bread crumbs in milk or buttermilk in large mixing bowl for 5 minutes. Add meat, eggs, salt & pepper, cardamom and 1 cup chopped onion. Mix well and roll into 1-1/2" meatballs. It helps to wet your hands as you roll.
• Saute meatballs in 1/4 cup butter approximately 20 minutes. Remove browned meatballs and set aside.
• In same skillet, saute 1/2 cup chopped onion with 1/4 cup butter, sugar and pepper unti caramelized, about 10 minumtes.
• Add beef broth to onion & sugar mixture, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Briefly cook over high heat.
• Add cream, gravy maker and all other spices and bring to a simmer.
• Make a slurry of the cornstarch & water and whisk the slurry into the mixture to thicken.
• If you're going to serve the meatballs right away, add them to the sauce and simmer another 20-30 minutes. Otherwise, cool and refrigerate sauce & meatballs, either together or separately. (I do this separately, as I often freeze the meatballs without the sauce.).
• Combine all ingredients for the lingonberry sauce and mix well.
• Serve meatballs in a chafing dish with sauce and lingonberry sauce on the side as a dip.

CARDAMOM BUN COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Beat butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add egg and 2 teaspoons vanilla; continue beating, scraping down sides of bowl as needed, until incorporated, about 1 minute. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture, beating until dough comes together, about 1 minute.
• Shape dough into a rough ball. Roll out dough between 2 sheets of parchment paper into a 14-by-10-inch rectangle (1/8-inch thick). Stir together sanding sugar and cardamom in a small bowl. Remove top sheet of parchment and sprinkle dough with sanding sugar mixture. Working from longer side of rectangle, slowly and tightly roll dough into a log, using parchment to help lift and roll dough as you go. Wrap log in parchment and freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350°F with racks in upper and lower thirds. Line 2 large, rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Remove log from freezer and slice crosswise into ½-inch-thick rounds. Transfer to baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between cookies.
• Bake until lightly browned around edges, about 12 minutes. Let cookies cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Beat confectioners' sugar, milk, cream cheese, and remaining ½ teaspoon vanilla in a small bowl until smooth. Drizzle glaze over cookies. Let glaze dry completely before storing cookies at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days.