Finnish Ribbon Cookies Recipes

FINNISH RIBBON COOKIES RECIPE - (4/5)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375. Cream butter and sugar until light. Beat in yolk, vanilla and lemon zest. In a separate bowl, stir together the flour and salt and gradually add to the butter mixture, blending thoroughly. If the dough is too soft to handle, chill for 10 to 15 minutes. Divide dough in 3 even pieces, then roll each piece into ropes about 3/4 inch in diameter. Place the ropes 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Using your little finger, press a long groove down the center of each rope, taking care not to press all the way down to the sheet. Bake cookies for 10 minutes. Remove the sheets from the oven and carefully spoon the jam in the grooves down the center of each cookie. Return the baking sheets to the oven for 5 to 10 minutes until the cookies are firm to the touch and light golden brown. While the cookies are baking, mix the powdered sugar with 1 tablespoon water until smooth. As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, drizzle each ribbon with the glaze. Immediately cut the cookies at a 45 degree angle into 1 inch lengths. Allow cookies to cool for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Cool completely.

RIBBON COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream butter until light and fluffy. Add sugar gradually. Add egg and vanilla, mixing well after each addition.
• In another bowl, mix together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Slowly add to the butter mixture, making sure all ingredients are incorporated.
• Divide dough into three equal parts. Add a few drops of red food coloring to one third, mixing until the color is even. Add cocoa and pecans to one third, mixing well. Leave the other third plain.
• Line a loaf pan with wax paper or foil. Press the chocolate layer into the bottom of the pan, pressing firmly to make the dough as flat and even as possible on top. Add the plain dough to the pan, again making an even layer on top of the chocolate. On top of the plain dough, add the red, pressing down flat on top. Wrap the dough completely, leave it in the loaf pan, and chill over night, or until firm enough to slice.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Remove dough from loaf pan and place on cutting board. Cut the dough lenghth-wise, down the middle, so you have two long "bars" of dough. Put one bar back in the refrigerator, to keep chilled while you work with the other.
• Slice into about 1/8" slices, or thicker if you like them a little softer. The thinner they are sliced, the crispier they will be.
• Bake for about 10 minutes at 325 degrees. Take them out when the bottoms are just browned. Try not to overbake, or they will lose their pretty color.
• Cool on wire rack.

FINNISH RIBBON CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and 1/2 cup granulated sugar until creamy.
• Beat in egg yolk, vanilla, and lemon peel.
• In a medium mixing bowl, stir together flour and salt.
• Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, blending thoroughly.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (or leave ungreased).
• Shape dough into two logs about 1-inch in diameter and as long as your baking sheets.
• With the side of your little finger, press a long trench - lengthwise - down the center of each log. DO NOT press all the way down to the cookie sheet or your jam will leak out.
• Bake logs for 10 minutes.
• Remove logs from oven and spoon jam into the trenches.
• Return to oven for 5 - 10 minutes or until logs are firm to touch and a light golden brown.
• In a small bowl, combine the confectioner's sugar and lemon juice.
• While cookies are hot, drizzle them with the confectioner's sugar mixture (or spread along the sides of the logs).
• Cut at a 45 degree angle into 1 inch lengths.
• Let cool 5 minutes on baking sheet.
• Transfer to racks and let cool completely.
• Store in single layers in an airtight container.

FINNISH CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Gradually beat in flour and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. , Roll out onto a well-floured surface to 1/4-in. thickness. Brush lightly with egg. Sprinkle with almonds and sugar if desired. Using a fluted pastry cutter or knife, cut into 2x1-in. strips. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. , Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire racks.

FINNISH PINWHEELS

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine dried plums, dates, water and sugar. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in butter. Cool. , Meanwhile, in a bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in butter as for a pie crust. Blend in egg, cream and vanilla. Form into 2 balls. , Place 1 ball at a time on a floured surface and roll to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut into 2-in. squares. Place on ungreased baking sheets. With a sharp knife, make 1-in. diagonal slits in corners. Place 1/2 teaspoon filling in the center of each square. Bring every other corner up into center to form a pinwheel and press lightly. Bake at 325° until the points are light golden brown, about 12 minutes. Cool on wire racks. Dust with confectioners' sugar.