Classic Swedish Christmas Cookies: Your Guide to the Best Spiced Holiday Treat

There’s an undeniable magic that fills the air when the holiday season approaches, and for many, that magic is deeply intertwined with the scents and tastes of homemade baking. Among the most cherished traditions is the art of baking Christmas cookies, and few capture the essence of festive warmth quite like these delicate and aromatic Swedish Christmas Cookies. This treasured recipe, a delightful blend of comforting spices, promises not just a tasty treat but an experience that embodies the spirit of the season.

The Irresistible Allure of Cookie Dough (Especially This One!)

Let’s be honest, who can resist the primal urge to sneak a spoonful of raw cookie dough? That creamy texture, the rich sweetness of fresh butter and sugar, the intriguing hint of flavoring, sometimes studded with chocolate chips or crunchy nuts… it’s a tempting preview of the finished masterpiece. The flour, the unsung hero, meticulously holds all these delicious components together, promising a future of baked bliss.

While I often find myself caught in the delightful debate of whether the dough is truly better than the finished cookie, I must concede that very few things can rival the pure joy of a homemade cookie, still warm from the oven. That perfect balance of delicate crispness, tender chewiness, and flavors that deepen with the heat is an unparalleled culinary experience. However, when it comes to cookie doughs (and yes, my spell checker still grumbles at that plural!), this Swedish Christmas Cookie dough is undeniably my absolute favorite to sample. It’s a truly special concoction that captivates even before it hits the oven.

A Legacy of Baking: My Sister, The Family’s Culinary Star

Growing up, my older sister was, without a doubt, the baking powerhouse of our family. I, on the other hand, was always more than happy to assume the crucial role of chief taste-tester, eagerly devouring all her magnificent creations. Each Christmas vacation, with a blissful two or three weeks off from school, she would wholeheartedly transform our kitchen into a vibrant, bustling holiday bakery. She possessed an adventurous spirit in the kitchen, never settling for simple, “boring” sugar cookies. In fact, I don’t recall her ever making a plain sugar cookie!

Instead, her repertoire included exquisite cream puffs, delicate fruit tarts, and a dazzling array of other desserts that truly made your mouth water in anticipation. Many of my very best cookie recipes, including this deeply cherished Swedish Christmas Cookie recipe, originated from her masterful hands. And if you’ll indulge me in a little more well-deserved bragging, her talents extend far beyond the kitchen; she also sews with remarkable skill, holds a PhD, and is the loving mother to three amazing children! It’s no wonder I affectionately refer to her as the “Martha Stewart of our family,” a title she has undoubtedly earned through her incredible versatility and boundless passion.

The Secret Ingredient: A Symphony of Warming Spices

You might find yourself pondering how a cookie dough, even one as exceptional as this, could possibly claim the title of my absolute favorite without a single speck of chocolate. The profound secret, my friends, lies entirely in the exquisite blend of spices. The true magic truly commences the very instant you begin to uncap those aromatic spice jars and meticulously measure each one. As the ground cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves gracefully mingle in the air, their distinct aromas start to intertwine, forming an intoxicating and comforting fragrance throughout your kitchen. I am a firm believer that there is genuine power in aromatherapy, especially when it emanates from this particular cookie dough.

Once these aromatic treasures are carefully incorporated and mixed thoroughly with the fresh, creamy butter, fine granulated sugar, and other essential ingredients, a remarkable transformation takes place. Each individual spice plays a pivotal and distinct role in crafting the signature flavor profile of these unforgettable Swedish Christmas Cookies, contributing to their complex and deeply satisfying taste:

• Cinnamon: The warm, sweet, and utterly comforting backbone of countless holiday treats, cinnamon provides a universally beloved aroma and a subtly sweet taste that is instantly recognizable.
• Ginger: Offering a delightful warmth and a gentle, spicy kick, ginger introduces a layer of depth and a classic, invigorating festive note that brightens the overall flavor.
• Allspice: Living up to its name, allspice brilliantly brings together a harmonious medley of notes reminiscent of cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon, contributing to the cookie’s rich, complex, and beautifully layered flavor profile.
• Ground Cloves: Intense, highly aromatic, and distinctively pungent yet sweet, cloves add a quintessential warmth that is absolutely essential for many traditional holiday cookies, providing a deep, lingering finish.

Seriously, I urge you to simply try preparing this dough. Allow those incredible, fragrant aromas to completely envelop your kitchen, transforming it into a haven of holiday cheer. I am absolutely confident that you will wholeheartedly agree with my assessment. And while the unbaked dough is indeed a star in its own right, the final baked cookie is every bit as delightful. It offers a delicate crispness that perfectly complements its rich, complex, and wonderfully spiced flavor, making each bite a truly memorable experience.

The Cherished Swedish Christmas Cookies Recipe

This delightful and easy-to-follow recipe, graciously shared by Gail Dickinson, yields an impressive approximately 7 to 8 dozen cookies – perfect for sharing, gifting, or simply enjoying throughout the festive season. While these cookies are traditionally associated with Christmas (the exact origins of this “Christmas” designation remain a charming mystery, but their warming spices certainly evoke the holiday spirit!), their delicate crispness and aromatic flavor profile make them absolutely perfect for any occasion when you crave a truly special, spice-infused treat.

Yield: 7-8 dozen

Swedish Christmas Cookies and Essential Baking Tips

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened to room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 3 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

Instructions

1. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the softened butter and sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale in color, typically for 2-3 minutes. This step is essential for incorporating air and ensuring a tender cookie texture.
2. Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the eggs one at a time, making sure each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next. Then, stir in the light corn syrup until it is thoroughly blended into the mixture. The corn syrup contributes to the cookies’ delicate crispness and a hint of chewiness.
3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium-sized bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground allspice, and ground cloves. This ensures all the dry ingredients, especially the spices and leavening agents, are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
4. Form Dough: Gradually add the combined dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients in the large bowl. Mix on low speed with your electric mixer or by hand until a stiff, cohesive dough forms. Be careful not to overmix, as overworking the dough can lead to tough cookies.
5. Chill Dough: Divide the dough into 2 or 3 manageable portions. Gently flatten each portion into a disc, then wrap each disc tightly in waxed paper or plastic wrap. Refrigerate the dough for a minimum of 2 hours. For optimal flavor development and to make rolling the dough much easier, chilling it overnight is highly recommended.
6. Roll and Cut Cookies: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly flour a clean work surface (like a countertop or large pastry board). Take one portion of the chilled dough and roll it out very thinly, aiming for a thickness of approximately 1/16 to 1/8 inch. Use your favorite festive cookie cutters to cut out various shapes. Carefully gather any dough scraps, gently re-roll them once, and cut out more cookies until all the dough is used.
7. Bake: Arrange the cut cookies on an ungreased baking sheet, leaving a little space between each to allow for even baking. Bake for 7-10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are just lightly golden brown. Baking time can vary depending on the exact thickness of your cookies and your oven’s calibration, so watch them closely to prevent overbaking.
8. Cool and Store: Carefully remove the baked cookies from the oven and let them rest on the baking sheet for a minute or two to firm up slightly. Then, gently transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once fully cooled, store these delightful Swedish Christmas Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain their crispness and fresh flavor. They are perfect for gifting, serving at holiday gatherings, or simply enjoying with a warm beverage!

Notes

This wonderful recipe is originally sourced from ChocolateChocolateandmore. For that classic crisp Swedish cookie texture, it’s crucial to roll the dough very thin. If you prefer a slightly softer cookie, you can roll it a bit thicker, just be sure to adjust your baking time accordingly. These cookies keep well in an airtight container for up to a week.

Did you make this recipe?

We’d love to see your beautiful creations! Please leave a comment on the blog with your experience or share a photo on Instagram, tagging us so we can admire your delicious Swedish Christmas Cookies!

We genuinely hope you enjoy the delightful process of baking and savoring these wonderful Swedish Christmas Cookies as much as we do!