Bring the sweet flavors of Norway into your home this holiday season with our favorite Norwegian Christmas cookies (julekaker)!
Step into the delicious world of Norwegian Christmas cookies with our "sju slags kaker" approved list of treats.
In Norway, the general rule of thumb is to have a variety of cookies on your Christmas cookie platter - seven varieties, to be exact ("sju slags kaker").
While the kinds of cookies vary by family and region, we've included our favorite must-bake julekaker (Christmas cookies) below.
Let's bake this season bright!
Jump to:
Pepperkaker
Spicy and subtly sweet, pepperkaker are Norway's version of a gingerbread cookie. What makes them different? They use golden syrup instead of molasses, are crispy on the outside but chewy on the inside, and get their bite from a dash of real pepper.
Ingredients: Granulated sugar, unsalted butter, golden syrup, ginger, cinnamon, pepper, cloves, baking soda, all-purpose flour, egg.
Brune Pinner
These simple cookies are a go-to holiday favorite in our household! Baked as a single, large cookie and sliced while warm, brune pinner are chewy, cinnamon-y and oh-so-easy to make.
Ingredients: Unsalted butter, granulated sugar, golden syrup, egg, all-purpose flour, baking soda, cinnamon, vanilla, chopped almonds, pearl sugar (optional).
Kransekake
Made out of almond cookie rings, the kransekake is a stunning cookie cake ubiquitous to Norwegian weddings, confirmations and Christmas. Simple and elegant, it's the epitome of Norwegian baking.
Ingredients: Almond flour, powdered sugar, egg whites, meringue powder.
Serinakaker
Buttery and delicate, serinakaker fall somewhere between a shortbread and a sugar cookie in terms of flavor and texture.
Ingredients: All-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, vanilla extract, unsalted butter, egg, pearl sugar (optional).
Rosettes
It just wouldn't be Christmas without rosettes! These powdered sugar and cinnamon-dusted fried treats are light, crisp and subtly sweet.
Ingredients: Fry oil, eggs, granulated sugar, salt, all-purpose flour, milk, vanilla extract, powdered sugar, cinnamon.
Sirupsnipper
Sirupsnipper are thin, crisp, diamond-shaped spice cookies not altogether unlike gingerbread (or pepperkaker) in terms of flavor.
Ingredients: Heavy cream, molasses, granulated sugar, unsalted butter, all-purpose flour, cloves, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, baking soda, blanched almonds.
Kransekakestenger
Wish there was a simple version kransekake? This is it! These four-ingredient almond cookies are finished with a drizzle of dark chocolate for the perfect balance of sweet and bitter.
Ingredients: Almond flour, powdered sugar, egg whites, semi-sweet chocolate.
Kokosmakroner
These coconut macaroons are subtly sweet, chewy, and coated in semi-sweet chocolate.
Ingredients: Egg whites, granulated sugar, unsweetened shredded coconut, vanilla extract, semi-sweet chocolate, almonds (optional).
Krumkake
A staple of Norwegian Christmas cookie baking, krumkake more than earns its place in the cookie tin with its simplicity, delicate flavor and crisp texture.
Ingredients: Eggs, granulated sugar, unsalted butter, all-purpose flour, cardamom.
More Norwegian Christmas bakes
Looking for more than just cookies to round out your Norwegian dessert offerings? Here are a few more traditional Christmas treats.
Sue says
Oh my gosh! What a wonderful collection of delicious, beautiful confections. Thank you for the stunning pictures, wonderful recipes and as always, so, so helpful details and tips.