Finnish Gingerbread Cookies
Crisp, buttery, and beautifully balanced with warm spices — these Finnish gingerbread cookies capture the essence of Nordic baking at its most comforting.
Fragrant with cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and cloves, these cookies are a timeless Finnish favorite. Their delicate spice blend and rich buttery base make them perfect for the holidays — or any moment that calls for something cozy from the oven.
Ingredients
- 150 g brown sugar
- 250 g dark syrup or mild molasses or dark treacle
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 3 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¾ - 1 tsp ground cloves
- 1 - 1,5 tsp ground cardamom
- 150 g salted butter see note
- 1 medium sized egg
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 500-600 g all-purpose flour
Instructions
Make the spiced syrup:
- In a heavy saucepan, combine the brown sugar, syrup, and all the spices. Bring just to a gentle boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
Add the baking soda:
- Remove from heat and stir in the baking soda. Whisk untile the mixture will foam. That’s exactly what you want.
Combine with butter:
- Place the butter in a large mixing bowl and pour the hot spiced mixture over it. Whisk until the butter has completely melted.
Cool and add the egg:
- Let the mixture cool to room temperature, then whisk in the egg until smooth.
Add the flour:
- Gradually mix in the flour until a soft but firm dough forms.
Chill:
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or overnight for the best flavor and texture.
Roll and bake:
- Preheat the oven to 225°C (435°F).
- Roll out a portion of the dough on a floured surface until thin, cut into shapes, and bake for about 8 minutes, or until golden brown.
Cool and serve:
- Cool the cookies on a wire rack. You can decorate them with icing — or enjoy their simple, golden beauty just as they are.
Notes
☕ Serving Tips
Serve with hot coffee or glögi (Finnish mulled wine).
They’re also delicious on a festive cheese board — especially alongside aged cheddar, goat cheese or blue cheese. 💡 Notes In Finland, salted butter is commonly used in baking.
If using unsalted butter, add ½ teaspoon of salt to the dough. The dough keeps well in the refrigerator for so you can bake the cookies in batches or prepare the dough ahead of time.
They’re also delicious on a festive cheese board — especially alongside aged cheddar, goat cheese or blue cheese. 💡 Notes In Finland, salted butter is commonly used in baking.
If using unsalted butter, add ½ teaspoon of salt to the dough. The dough keeps well in the refrigerator for so you can bake the cookies in batches or prepare the dough ahead of time.