Swedish Gingersnaps Food

SWEDISH GINGER SNAPS (PEPPARKAKOR)

Steps:

• Whisk pastry flour (or all-purpose flour and cornstarch), baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon and cloves together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• Combine butter, sugar and molasses in the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix on medium speed until mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. This will take longer if you are mixing by hand. Reduce speed to low and add the egg. Mix until fully combined.
• Add flour mixture to butter mixture. Mix on low speed until just combined. Using a spatula, transfer dough to a large piece of plastic wrap. Wrap tightly and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or up to one day or, alternatively, place dough in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes. The dough will be easier to work with if it is well-chilled.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place 1/2 cup of sugar in a small bowl and find a drinking glass with a flat bottom.
• Remove a portion of the dough from the refrigerator. Tearing off one small piece at a time, roll dough between your palms into a small ball about 1/2 -3/4 inch in diameter. Dough will be sticky. Place dough ball in the bowl of sugar and roll it around until it is completely coated. Place ball on prepared baking sheet.
• Continue with remaining dough until baking sheet is filled, leaving at least 1 inch of space between each dough ball on the baking sheet. Dip the bottom of the drinking glass into the bowl of sugar and press down on each ball flattening it into a disc approximately 1/4 inch thick. Be sure to dip the glass in the sugar before flattening each cookie.
• Place baking sheet in the oven and bake cookies for 8-10 minutes or until cookies are just set. Do not over bake if you want the center of the cooke to remain slightly chewy. Let cool completely on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack. Repeat with remaining dough, rechilling the dough as necessary if it becomes difficult to work with.

SWEDISH ORANGE GINGERSNAPS

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl or standing mixer cream together the butter and sugar until light. Beat in 1 egg and mix in the molasses, orange juice, and zest. Sift together the dry ingredients and stir them into the wet ingredients to make a soft, smooth dough, adding more flour if dough is too sticky. Knead the dough three times on a lightly floured board.
• Shape the dough into 3 logs, about 8-inches long, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Slice logs into thin circles, less than 1/8-inch thick. Place on lightly greased baking sheets.
• Bake cookies for about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven and transfer cookies to a rack to cool.

GINGERSNAP SWEDISH MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Crush gingersnaps, approximately 20, 2 inch cookies, to make 1 1/4 cups.
• In large bowl, combine crushed gingersnaps with milk and egg.
• Add ground beef, pork, onion, salt, pepper and allspice. Mix well to combine.
• Refrigerate, covered for one hour.
• With moistened hands, shape mixture into meatballs, 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
• Preheat oven to 325.
• In hot butter in large skillet saute meatballs, just enough at one time to cover bottom of skillet, until browned all over. (I have elimanated this step to bake in hot oven until browned).
• Remove to a 2 quart greased (pam) oven proof casserole dish as they brown. Pour off drippings to measure 1/4 cup, adding more butter if necessary.
• Add drippings back to skillet heat and add flour stirring to make a smooth mixture.
• Gradually stir in beef broth and bring mixture to boil, stirring constantly.
• Add garlic, thyme and bay leaf, salt and pepper to taste simmer for 5 minutes for flavors to mingle.
• Pour over meatballs and bake covered one hour.
• Garnish with parsley and serve with noodles.

GINGERSNAP MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Combine the first five ingredients.
• Shape into meatballs any size you choose.
• Brown the meatballs in a little vegetable oil.
• Transfer to a baking dish.
• Combine the rest of the ingredients for the sauce.
• Bring to a boil in a sauce pan.
• Pour the sauce over the meatballs and bake@ 350 for 40-45 minutes.

SWEDISH GINGERSNAPS

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugar; add eggs and molasses.
• Stir in spices and soda.
• Mix in flour.
• Roll into balls the size of walnuts and then in sugar.
• Place 2-inches apart on cookie sheets.
• Bake in 350° oven for 10-11 minutes until golden brown.

PEPPARKAKOR (SWEDISH GINGER COOKIES)

Steps:

• Heat molasses in small saucepan to boiling point.
• Boil 1 minute.
• Add sugar and butter and stir until butter is melted.
• Cool.
• Beat in egg.
• Sift together flour, salt, soda and spices.
• Add to first mixture and mix thoroughly.
• Cover bowl tightly and chill overnight.
• Roll out a portion of the dough at a time on lightly floured pastry cloth.
• Roll out thin.
• Cut into desired shapes.
• Bake in a moderate oven (350F) 6 to 8 minutes.
• The dough may be shaped into a roll and wrapped in waxed paper.
• Chill thoroughly overnight or longer.
• Slice thin and bake in moderate oven (350F).
• These should be stored in an air-tight container - allow flavor to "ripen".

SWEDISH ORANGE GINGERSNAPS

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl or using a standing mixer cream the butter and sugar until light and well combined, beat in one egg.
• Add the molasses, orange juice, and zest. Sift the dry ingredients together and stir into the mixture making a soft, smooth dough. More flour can be added if dough is too sticky.
• Place dough on lightly floured surface and knead the dough three times. Separate dough into three pieces and shape into logs, approximately eight inches long. Wrap logs well in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice logs into circles, 1/8-inch thick or less and place on lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake for about 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. When baked, place cookies on wire racks to cool.