Family traditions are important to me, especially now that my family includes only Wayne and me. Christmas has always been a time to remember our heritage.I just finished making my favourite Xmas cookies and wanted to share this post again for my new readers.
Grandma's family came from Norway by ship and through Ellis Island. Her father (Swedish) was a chef, and was sponsored by the Adventist church to work at the Kellogg Sanitarium in Battle Creek, Michigan. Grandma's Aunt Mary (from her dad's Swedish side) served as a missionary in South America, but often visited at Christmas when my mom was young. Along with amazing tales of living in a far off country, she brought her Swedish baking skills for holiday goodies.
So, one of our family Christmas traditions has been to make Swedish Spritz Cookies each year. The old family recipe card is in Mom's handwriting with the title:
Spritz - Swedish Cookies (Aunt Mary)
1 cup butter1 cup sugar
1 egg (or three egg yolks)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 teaspoons brandy (if you have some)
2 1/3 cups flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Be sure the butter is firm and do not make on a warm day. Handle as little as possible.Cream butter and sugar. Mix in egg and flavourings. Add flour, salt, and baking powder. Don't overwork!
Place dough in a cookie press. Press cookies onto a sheet and bake in a 335 degree oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.
Remove cookies to cool, and store in an airtight container. These are rich, crispy cookies that make a nice Christmas, or anytime treat. -- Margy
I used to make these every Christmas using the old press that had a handle like a hose and you wound it. We have lots of stencils to put in it and I always made a batch of blue camels. I have no idea why blue, but that's what I did as a kid so any time I make them, I still have blue camels. I found one that is like a gun at a garage sale but I've never used it yet.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it funny how traditions start and keep themselves going? My mom's old press used a screw handle to press the dough out. I have that up north in Powell River. I use this "modern" version when I am in Bellingham. That's where we usually have Christmas with a good friend. Thanks for stopping by to comment. - Margy
DeleteI gained 2 pounds just reading this
ReplyDeleteWe gained 12 eating them. Maybe it's a good thing the supply is running low. - Margy
DeleteThey look the perfect Christmas indulgence. The recipe card is a family treasure. Wishing you and your family a very happy Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThey are rich and buttery, almost like a shortbread. I just love them. I have all of Mom's old recipe cards and books. She was a wonderful cook, and so was my dad. - Margy
DeleteThose Swedish Spritz cookies look like what I know from Holland as spritz cookies. They have a buttery flavor. Thank yous for coming by my blog - have a merry Christmas! By the way, the trip around the globe was not my niece's honeymoon. For the latter they went to Egypt (a last minute change otherwise they would have been in the tsunami of SE Asia!).
ReplyDeleteLots of foods cross country borders. Looks like this is one of them. - Margy
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