Baking Cookies with the Cantalupo's ~ Norwegian Kringle and Finnish Ribbon Cakes
I began making these holiday cookies many years ago. I was married at the time. My then husband and I were experiencing a major financial set back. To help us get back on our feet, we had moved into a one bedroom apartment located in the same home as his parents. Our first child was born there and all three of us slept in the same bedroom.
Money was super tight. We couldn't afford to buy Christmas presents for all of our family members. I began creating all sorts of wonderful and yummy goodies to gift including a handful of different kinds of cookies. That was over 30 years ago and I'm still making some of these cookies today.
This holiday season my daughter-in-law requested that I teach her how to make two of her and my son's favorite cookie recipes; Norwegian Kringle Cookies and Finnish Ribbon Cakes (recipes below). I was touched that she had asked. She's a talented cook herself. She could have just asked for the recipes but she actually wanted to spend time with me in the kitchen. After we had set the date and time, my son chimed in and said he's coming to bake cookies, too! Ohhhhhhh, how my heart was full.
I remember making these same two cookie recipes with my son in our little kitchen in that one bedroom apartment in Watertown, Massachusetts. He was the cutest and most happy toddler. He didn't do much to help but he sure did enjoy himself. He turned one of the kitchen cabinets that I had emptied out especially for him into his fort/home. He loved to run around the kitchen island and drive his "Cozy Coupe" throughout our small apartment. He would drive his car over to our front door where he would park and exit, closing the door behind him. He would then open the apartment door to then get back into his little car and drive it out into the hallway as he hollered something about going off to work. A few minutes later he'd drive his car back inside the apartment in the same exact fashion, and over to his cabinet-home-fort and then repeat the process all over again.
A different house now and a different life, and my son is a grown man with a beautiful wife. He has a home of his own (and a real car, too lol). And for the first time in a very, very, long time, he's in the kitchen baking cookies with his Mother again. Together we created another beautiful memory that I will cherish dearly. I'm so happy we decided to shoot a video of this occasion! Not only will I be able to watch it over and over again, but I also get to share it with all of you. ♥
I included the link to the video below. In it I share some of the cookie baking tips and tricks that I have gathered throughout all the years of making these recipes; Norwegian Kringle Cookies and Finnish Ribbon Cakes. Also below are the recipes, and the links to download them. If you do opt to give them a try, then please tell me if you think they are as yummy as we do. Post your thoughts in the comments!
Come Bake Cookies with the Cantalupo's Video!!
Norwegian Kringle Cookie Recipe
Hard-cooked egg yolks lend extra richness to the dough for Kringle, Norway's pretzel-shaped butter cookies.
- 1 cup (1/2 lb.) butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 hard-cooked egg yolks, finely mashed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg white, lightly beaten
- Granulated sugar or coarsely crusted sugar cubes
In large bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and the 1 cup sugar until creamy; beat in egg, egg yolks, and vanilla until well combined. In another bowl, stir together flour and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, blending thoroughly. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until next day.
Pinch off 1-inch balls of dough and roll each into a 6-inch-long strand. Form each strand into pretzel shape on greased baking sheets, spacing pretzels about an inch apart. Using a pastry brush, brush cookies with egg white; then sprinkle with sugar.
Bate in a 350° oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until pale golden brown. Transfer to racks and let cool completely . Store airtight. Makes about 4 dozen.
Notes:
-I pinch and roll out 48 balls of dough before rolling into 6-inch-long strands.
Finnish Ribbon Cakes Recipe
For holiday (or everyday) entertaining, offer these fancy Finnish morsels.
- 1 cup (1/2 lb.) butter or margarine, softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- About 6 tablespoons raspberry or apricot jam
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar mixed with 1 tablespoon water
In large bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until creamy; beat in egg yolk, vanilla, and lemon peel. In another bowl, stir together flour and salt. Gradually add to butter mixture, blending thoroughly.
Shape dough into ropes about 3/4 inch in diameter and as long as your baking sheets; place them about 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. With the side of your little finger, press a long groove down the center of each rope (don't press all the way down to baking sheets). Bake cookies in a 375° oven for 10 minutes.
Remove cookies from oven and spoon jam into the grooves. Return to oven for 5 to 10 minutes or until cookies are firm to touch and light golden brown. While cookies are hot, drizzle them with powdered sugar mixture (or spread mixture along the sides of cookies). Then cut at 45° angle into 1-inch lengths. Let cool briefly on baking sheets; transfer to racks and let cool completely. Store airtight. Makes about 4 dozen.
Notes:
