Pepperkaker (Gingerbread-cookies)

Every Christmas since I was a kid I have been making these cookies or "Pepperkaker" as we call them in Norway. The recipe is a mix of a recipe I got from my grandma and one from my favorite blog Mat på bordet. The reason for mixing these two recipes is the one from "Mat på bordet" works best with the american flour (it's easier to roll out) but the one from my "Grandma" has the spice mix I'm used too and therefore means Christmas for me.

Ingredients;


500 gr brown sugar
150 ml light syrup (I used Lyle's golden syrup)
150 ml water
300 gr butter
15 dl flour
2 tsp orange peel (Spice, I buy it at whole foods)
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp ground cloves
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp ground pepper
3 tsp baking soda

First you heat sugar, water and syrup in a pot until boiling. Remove from heat. Add butter. Let the mixture cool without touching.
When cool pour into the mixer bowl, add the spices and blend. Add the baking soda and half of the flour, mix well.

Add the rest of the flour little by little making sure you don't add to much. (It shouldn't be a problem, at least it never was for me but just to be on the safe side...) The dough is supposed to be firm but still a little bit sticky.

Cover the bowl with cling wrap and put in the refrigerator until the next day. 

When making the "pepperkaker" add flour to the baking surface and use a rolling pin to roll out the dough as thin as possible. Use cookie cutters to make the cookies. Put them on a cookie tray lined with parchment paper and bake for approximately 7 minutes on 350 F.
Pay attention they turn brow fast.

When cooled down you can eat them as is or decorate them with royal icing, choc chips, m&m's or whatever.

These I baked on a stick (just put the stick on the baking sheet and press the dough firmly on top of it, it will stick when baked)

Happy Holidays!!