A Norwegian Christmas Cookie Everyone Will Love

Brune pinner literally translates to ‘brown sticks’. Doesn’t sound very romantic or catchy now, does it? But I promise you, even though they sound a tad boring, once you taste these cookies, you’ll fall in love. They are some of the most popular modern Norwegian Christmas cookies today, and for many families, it’s considered one of the obligatory seven types of cookies to make every year during the holidays. Why seven? This number is associated with good luck in most countries. Seven is also a religious number, but it’s not necessarily a Norwegian tradition. Regardless, I doubt you’ll find seven types of Christmas cookies in any other household outside of Norway (and people of Norwegian descent)!

Norwegian Pepperkaker to kick off Christmas

The first Christmas cookies I typically eat, are pepperkaker. These crispy, flavorful gingerbread cookies are seen everywhere across Norway from early December on to the end of the year, and a clear favorite among many kids and grown-ups alike. Nothing creates the feeling of Christmas quite like the smell of these aromatic cookies baking in the oven. Gingerbread houses are also common to make, particularly in households with small children. In fact, the world’s largest gingerbread city is located in Bergen, Norway and opens every year during this time of year.

Risgrøt (Norwegian Rice Porridge)

Risgrøt, or risengrynsgrøt as they call it in my part of Norway, is a simple rice porridge made typically of short grain rice, short grain rice, salt and perhaps a little cream. Served with a generous sprinkle of sugar and cinnamon with a big dollop of butter placed...

The Best Norwegian Cardamom Buns

I'm always experimenting with different recipes for cardamom buns, because well... I'm sorta obsessed with them. I can't think of anything equivalent in the baking world in any other country that is so simple, versatile and satisfying. If it were up to me, I'd eat...

Norwegian Sea Salt and Rosemary Crackers

As a Norwegian food blogger having lived in the United States now for well over 25 years, it always warms my heart to meet people who love Norway, as well as the food, drinks, culture, and history. It surprises me how many are actually familiar with, and...

Butternut-Potato Cakes with Lemon-Dill Yogurt Sauce

Being Norwegian, I'll take any opportunity to cook with potatoes, as you cannot call yourself a proper Scandinavian without professing your love for this glorious vegetable in every way possible. In one of my favorite books, "The Starch Solution", Dr. John McDougall...

Norwegian Cardamom Buns with Vanilla Custard and Caramelized Cinnamon Apples

Fall is officially here. The air has gotten crisper, the leaves are starting to turn, and the days all of a sudden have become shorter. This is my favorite time of year, and when I get back into the kitchen to do some serious baking…One of the pastries you will see most frequently when visiting bakeries and private homes in Norway is definitely cardamom buns… There are endless varieties, one of my favorites being “skoleboller”, a popular version with vanilla custard in the center, decorated with confectioner’s glaze and coconut flakes.

Norvegan Heart-Shaped Waffles

There are few dishes in the Norwegian kitchen with as many recipes as “vafler”. These heart-shaped, sweetly aromatic, and soft-to-the-bite Norwegian waffles are as famous in people’s homes as they are at public events and in Norwegian seamen’s churches around the world.

Fyrstekake; a Norwegian classic cake improved

I have to admit, fyrstekake was never my favorite Norwegian cake. The versions I grew up experiencing were always very dense, sometimes dry and most often too rich to even enjoy more than one bite. Perhaps this is why I’ve been hesitant to make it regularly. I am thrilled to report that my efforts to veganize this cake produced a result I am much happier with than the cakes I used to eat as a child and one I wrote about before I went vegan.

Horn: Norwegian crescent rolls

Norwegians love to bake, and while all countries have their own versions of pretty much any dish in existence, I don't think there's anything quite like Norwegian "horn". The closest would probably be crescent rolls but I will refer to them as "horns" for the rest of...