Swedish Almond Cookies Recipes

SCANDINAVIAN ALMOND COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Line 2 large cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper; spray with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix cookie mix, softened butter, egg, flour and 1 teaspoon almond extract until dough forms.
• Divide dough into 3 pieces. Place 2 dough pieces on first cookie sheet. Press each piece into 12x2 1/2-inch rectangle, leaving 4 inches between rectangles. Place remaining piece of dough on second cookie sheet, and repeat shaping.
• Brush each rectangle with 1/2 teaspoon milk; sprinkle with 1/4 cup almonds. Press almonds lightly into tops of dough.
• Bake one cookie sheet at a time 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are golden brown (center will look soft). Cool 1 minute. Using sharp knife, cut each log into 1-inch diagonal slices, making sure to cut completely through almond slices while cutting. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack, leaving slices on parchment paper. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• In small bowl, stir powdered sugar, 1/4 teaspoon almond extract and 5 to 6 teaspoons milk until desired consistency. Drizzle over cookies; sprinkle 3 tablespoons almonds over tops. Let stand about 1 hour or until glaze is set. Store loosely covered at room temperature up to 2 days.

SWEDISH GROUND ALMOND SPRITZ COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spread the almonds out on a baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until lightly browned or until they give off an aroma. Remove from the oven, and allow to cool completely. Grind to a consistency resembling rough sand in a food processor or blender. Be sure almonds are cool, or you will make almond butter.
• In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then stir in the almond extract and milk. Sift in the flour, baking powder and salt, and mix in along with the ground toasted almonds to form a soft dough. Refrigerate the dough for 15 to 20 minutes. This will help the cookies keep their shape after pressing.
• Lightly grease cookie sheets, and fill cookie press with dough. Press out cookies at least 1 inch apart depending on the size. You can experiment with different cookie designs. I've found most true Swedes tend to use the star shape, however, you're free to use whatever shape suits your fancy.
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until cookies are lightly browned. Cool on the cookie sheets for a minute before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

SWEDISH ALMOND BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a large bowl, combine the butter and sugar. Using a mixer, beat at medium-high speed, until light. In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt; Add to the large bowl and mix until well incorporated. Add the almond extract and the heavy cream and mix again.
• Turn the dough out on a floured surface and form into a ball. Cut into 4 portions and shape each into a disk, about 4-inch in diameter and ¼" thick. Refrigerate 10 minutes.
• Place dough rounds on a baking sheet. Brush tops with beaten egg and sprinkle some pearl sugar on top. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven. Lower the oven temperature to 300°F.
• Cut each round into 10 slices, then cut each slice in half (except the short ends). Return to the oven and bake 20 minutes for crispy cookies or 12 minutes for chewier cookies. The baking time also depends on the size of the cookies, so keep an eye on them while they bake!
• Makes about 60 cookies.

SWEDISH SPRITZ COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and extracts. Combine the flour and baking powder; gradually add to the creamed mixture. , Using a cookie press fitted with disk of your choice, press dough into desired shapes 1 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 10-11 minutes or until edges are firm and lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool. Frost as desired.

SCANDINAVIAN ALMOND BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°.
• Stir together flour, baking powder and salt.
• In a large bowl beat margarine or butter till softened.
• Add sugar and beat till fluffy.
• Add egg and the 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract and beat well.
• Add the flour mixture and beat till well mixed.
• Divide the dough into fourths, form each portion into a 12 inch roll.
• Place 2 of the rolls 4 to 5-inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Flatten each roll till it is about 3 inches wide.
• Repeat with the remaining rolls.
• Brush each flattened roll with milk and sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of almonds each.
• Bake in a 325° oven for 12-14 minutes or till edges are lightly brown.
• While still warm, cut crosswise on the diagonal into 1 inch strips.
• Cool completely on a wire rack.
• Stir together the powdered sugar, the almond extract and enough of the 3-4 teaspoons of milk to make a drizzling consistency.
• Drizzle over the cool bars.

SWEDISH RASPBERRY ALMOND BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually add flour and mix well. Press onto the bottom of a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake 18-20 minutes or until lightly browned., Spread jam over crust. In a large bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, on high until stiff peaks form. Fold in coconut and 1/2 cup almonds. Spread over jam. Sprinkle with remaining almonds. Bake 18-22 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack. Dust with additional confectioners' sugar if desired.

SWEDISH SPRITZ COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream the butter and sugar together in a large bowl.
• Add egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Mix well.
• Sift together the flour and baking powder.
• Add to the creamed mixture, and mix until smooth.
• Do not chill.
• If you want to color the dough, separate into portions and mix in a few drops of food coloring before forming cookies. (For example, you can make green christmas trees, red hearts, yellow camels, etc.).
• Fill cooky press with dough and force dough through the press.
• You can sprinkle colored sugar on cookies before baking.
• Bake cookies at 400 degrees (F) for 8-10 minutes.

SWEDISH ALMOND CAKE

Steps:

• This cake is traditionally made in a Rehrucken/Almond Cake Loaf Pan. If you don't have one you can double the recipe and bake it in a bundt cake pan instead. Whichever pan you are using prepare it by coating the pan with cooking spray.
• Preheat the oven to 350 F.
• Melt butter in the microwave.
• Beat together sugar, milk, egg, and almond extract,
• Stir the baking powder and flour into the milk mixture.
• Mix in melted butter until thoroughly combined.
• Fill the prepared pan with cake batter.
• Bake the cake at 350° for 40-50 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
• Set the cake pan on a rack to completely cool. Do not try to remove the cake while it is warm as it might crack. When cooled, place pan upside down and tap. Sides can be loosened with a silicone or wooden tool. Don't use metal since it can scratch the pan.
• Decorate the cake by sprinkling powdered sugar on top along with slivered almonds. You could also top it with fresh berries, sprinkles, whipped cream or ice cream.

SWEDISH ALMOND COOKIES

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350F. Combine butter and sugar. Mix at medium high speed until light. Add flour, powder, and salt. Beat well. Add extract and cream. Mix well.
• 2. Turn dough out and work into a ball. Cut into 4 portions and shape each into a ball. Flatten to a 4 inch circle. Chill in fridge for 10min. Place dough rounds on a baking sheet. Brush tops with beaten egg and sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake 20minutes. Decrease to 300F. Cut each into 10 slices and then in half. Bake for another 10-20minutes.

SWEDISH ALMOND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare pan with baking spray. In a small bowl, whisk together flour and baking powder. In another bowl, mix sugar, egg, almond extract and milk. Add flour mixture and blend thoroughly. Finally, add melted butter and stir until fully combined. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 40-50 minutes. Cool cake completely before turning out. In small bowl, blend powdered sugar, milk and vanilla to desired consistency. Pour on top of cooled cake and sprinkle with almonds.

SWEDISH ALMOND RUSK (MANDEL SKORPER)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Sift together flour, cardamom, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.
• Beat together butter, sugar, and extract with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in flour mixture at low speed just until combined, then stir in almonds.
• Form dough into 4 (11- by 2-inch) logs and place 2 inches apart on an ungreased large baking sheet.
• Bake logs in middle of oven until pale golden, about 20 minutes. Cool logs on sheet 5 minutes, then transfer to a cutting board and cut logs diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices with a serrated knife using a sawing motion.
• Reduce temperature to 300°F.
• Arrange rusks, cut sides down, on baking sheets and bake in batches in middle of oven until golden, about 18 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool.