Day 8

On the 8th day of Christmas my gift to you from me are another two of my favorite recipes :)

These are both Swedish recipes (surprise) we make each year to celebrate St. Lucia

Engelska Pepparkakor

(these are like a thinner, crispier gingerbread)

1/2 c sugar

3/4 c brown sugar

3/4 c dark syrup *

2/3  stick butter

2 t cinnamon

2 t ginger

1/2 t cloves

1/2 t cardamom

1 t grated orange peel

1 1/2 t baking soda

Combine all and mix well.

3/4 c heavy cream or half and half

Beat until lightly foamy and add to sugar mixture.

5 1/4 c flour

Add to spicy mixture.  Work the dough until shiny and pliable on table adding more flour if needed.  Divide the dough into two halves.  Pat out to a disk, wrap and refrigerate over night, or a few hours if you can't wait that long.  Roll out to 1/8" thin and cut with a cookie cutter.  Bake in a 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes.  The most traditional Swedish shapes are pigs, goat and apples.  These taste fabulous with egg nog, hot cider or hot chocolate. 



*Dark syrup is dark corn syrup, however you can use molasses.  It just makes the cookies softer rather than crispy.   The flavor remains pretty much the same because of the other spices.

The traditional recipe is Saffron bread or "Lussekatter".  If you've ever looked, you will know that Saffron is obscenely expensive.  So I've adopted this recipe of

Buttered Sweet Potato Knot Rolls

1 T yeast
1 c warm milk
3/4 c mashed sweet potatoes, canned or fresh
1 T butter
1 1/4 t salt
2 large egg yolks
5 c bread flour

Dissolve yeast in milk.  Let stand 5 minutes and then add sweet potatoes, butter, salt and egg yolks.  Mix with a whisk.  Add 4 1/2 c flour and stir until dough forms.  Knead and add remaining flour.  Cover and let rise until doubled in size.  Punch down and let rest 5 minutes. 

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.  Divide the dough into 24 equal portions.  Working with one at a time, roll dough into a "snake", tie into a knot and tuck ends underneath.  Put 12 rolls on each baking sheet and spray with cooking spray.  Cover and let rise until doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Bake rolls (uncovered) for 12-15 minutes.  Brush with butter while still warm.