Brune Pinner— I never heard the name until a couple of months ago while browsing the internet for “Norwegian Christmas cookies.” My husband is of Norwegian descent— his mom was first generation Norwegian-American, so these roots are very ingrained in his family, especially around Christmas. And every Christmas I try to make one cookie or special Norwegian dish particular to the Christmas season. This year’s choice is a winner and so delicious, and apparently the most favorite Christmas cookie in Norway.

The name Brune Pinner translates to ‘brown sticks’ and if I had to compare it to a familiar cookie in the USA, it would be gingerbread, but with a more mellow taste. You can still get the hint of the molasses and all the familiar holiday flavors, but its made more interesting by topping them with sweet and crunchy pearl sugar and almonds. The result is a cookie that is slightly crunchy on the outside but delicious chewy in the inside. And it is a perfect cookie for coffee or tea. Yum!

The recipe is fairly easy, and I have included it below. God Jul (Merry Christmas)!

BRUNE PINNER

INGREDIENTS

• ¾ cups + 2 tbsp of butter (1 ½ sticks)

• 1 cup of sugar

• 1 egg yolk (don’t throw away the egg white; you will use it at a later step)

• 3 tsp vanilla (in Norway they use something called Vanilla Sugar, but I cannot find it here in the USA.

• 4 tsp cinnamon

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1 tbsp of molasses

• 1 ¾ cups + 2 tbsp of flour

• Pearl sugar and chopped almonds to garnish

STEPS

1. Using a hand or standing mixer, whip the butter and sugar into a cream. Add the egg yolk and continue to whip until light and fluffy,

2. Essential step: Heat the molasses in a small pan until it becomes liquid and add into the butter mixture.

3. Using a sifter, add the flour, vanilla, cinnamon, baking soda. Using your hands, work the dough until it forms. Note: I find that if I do this in the standing mixer, the dough will not come together.

4. Shape the dough into a log and cut into six pieces. Then roll each pieces into a long strand, the length of the baking sheet.

5. Using your fingers, flatten the rolls until it is 1/4 inch thick. Using a brush, brush the egg white over the dough and top with pearl sugar and almonds.

6. Bake for 12-15 minutes at 350 °F. When done, cut the rolls diagonally with a pizza cutter or a knife while they are still warm. Let them cool down. Enjoy!

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