Cardamom Cookies (Kardemummapyrokat)
Inspired to celebrate the Finnish side of my heritage on today’s St. Urho day I pulled out the cardamom from the spice cabinet with the idea of making a dessert-like recipe. Cardamom is widely used in Nordic baking and provides a unique satisfying flavor which can leave you feeling less need to consume sugary sweets. (or at least for the moment!) This Indian spice is derived from ginger and therefore beneficial to aiding in digestion and provides other health benefits. Eating just a cookie or two, the robust spice fills your senses and creates a bit of warmth. A perfect accompaniment to celebrating St. Urho Day on a cold blustery afternoon.
SECRET INGREDIENT: Cardamom
TIP: Adding more or less cardamom and trying variants such as green vs black cardamom can dramatically and interestingly change the flavor.
Cardamom Cookies (Kardemummapyrokat)
- ½ cup soft butter
- ½ cup sugar (can reduce this to 1/3 to lesson any sugar taste)
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 2 cups sifted white flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 and 1/2 tablespoons crushed or powdered cardamom or equals of each.
(for even more robust cookies can add a bit more) - Approx. ½ cup confectionary sugar for dusting
Cream butter, sugar until light, then add egg, beating until thick. Stir in cream. Then sift flour with baking powder and salt and add cardamom to the creamed mixture. Mix all until a stiff dough forms. Chill thoroughly about an hour.
Shape chilled dough into 2 types of shapes: small balls (about 1 inch) and also small 2” long logs which can be pinched in half to form crescents. Arrange on a lightly greased baking sheet or on a baking sheet with parchment (no grease needed).
Bake at 375 for 10-12 mins or until the bottoms are golden. Makes 36 cookies.
(optional) Dust with confectionary sugar once cookies are out of the oven.
-- Weather When Posted --
- Temperature: 30°F;
- Humidity: 31%;
- Heat Index: 30°F;
- Wind Chill: 19°F;
- Pressure: 30.1 in.;
V ! This is a wonderful recipe ! First time I used cardamom was in a Moroccan recipe I tried many moons ago, and then I found it was a favorite ingredient when I lived in England. But until your post I never knew it had any connection to ginger. Well, Happy St Urho’s Day and thanks for the recipe and tips !