Swedish Pepparkakor & Toblerone Shortbreads

Great Friday evening!

Hubby had a card game to attend so I had the house to myself.  Most people know me as a social butterfly; I enjoy people and I love socializing but there are days when I treasure being solitary.

So, Friday evening I poured myself a glass of Shiraz-Cabarnet, turned the radio station dial to 98.1, Toronto's Christmas Music Station, to get in the spirit.

And, I got to work. I started out by baking my annual Swedish Pepparkakor. They are so time consuming that I'd like to pass on them each year, but the kids really want them.  So, I bake them.   I remember being a little girl and my mother telling me she wasn't going to bake Pepparkakor any more, because they are a lot of work and she doesn't even like eating them.  Gee, I remember thinking, soon I'll be old enough to bake them myself.      

They do make the house smell like Christmas!

SWEDISH PEPPARKAKOR      Bake at: 410 degree F

1 ¼ cup margarine or butter (room temperature)

2 cups sugar

100 ml corn syrup (or golden)

1 tbsp ground ginger

2 tbsp ground cinnamon

1 tbsp ground cloves

1 tbsp baking soda

200 ml water

Approx. 6 cups flour

Stir/mix margarine/butter, sugar and syrup until blended.   Add spices, baking soda, and then add water and stir/mix until blended.  Add most of the flour and work until dough is not longer sticky.  Add more flour if needed.  Wrap dough in foil and let rest in fridge overnight.

Take dough out and let come to room temperature. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 410 degrees F.  On lightly floured surface roll out small amounts of dough until very thin. Cut with assorted cookie cutters.   Place on prepared cookie sheets. 

Bake 5-7 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack. Continue to roll, cut and bake rest of dough.

 Toblerone Short breads was next on my task list.  They are super easy to bake and so delicious.   The rice flour can be substituted for corn starch.

After tidying up the kitchen; I poured myself another glass; got the fire roaring; positioned my laptop on the coffee table;  settled in on the couch; and treated myself to some Swedish Web TV...

Life is good...even when I'm by myself..