These Christmas Norwegian Cookies (Brune Pinner) are crisp, buttery, lightly spiced cookies with a warm cinnamon flavor and a beautiful golden-brown finish. Also known as “brown sticks,” Brune Pinner are simple Scandinavian Christmas cookies that are easy to prepare, quick to bake, and perfect for holiday cookie trays.
If you enjoy traditional European holiday cookies, these Norwegian Christmas cookies are a wonderful recipe to add to your baking list. They are sweet without being overly rich, and the topping of sanding sugar and chopped almonds gives every bite a delicate crunch.
Why this Norwegian Christmas Cookies Recipe is a Keeper
Brune Pinner are a favorite Norwegian cookie during the holiday season and are often associated with the syv slags kaker, or “seven kinds of cookies,” tradition. They are easy enough for everyday baking but special enough for Christmas gatherings, cookie exchanges, and festive dessert platters.
- Ready in 20 Minutes: These cookies take about 10 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to bake, making them a fast holiday treat.
- Simple Ingredients: Butter, sugar, flour, cinnamon, molasses, almonds, and sanding sugar come together to create a classic cookie with deep, cozy flavor.
- Family Friendly: The dough is easy to shape, brush, top, and slice, so this is a fun recipe to make with family during the holidays.
- No Special Equipment Needed: Unlike some traditional Scandinavian cookies, Brune Pinner do not require a special iron or mold. A mixing bowl, mixer, baking sheet, and knife are enough.
What is the Norwegian Tradition of the Seven Cookies?
The Scandinavian tradition of serving several varieties of cookies during the holidays is a beloved part of festive baking. In Norway, syv slags kaker means “seven kinds of cookies.” Families often choose their own favorites, and the exact selection can vary from home to home.
Brune Pinner are a natural fit for this tradition because they are easy to make in batches, store well, and bring a lovely balance of butter, spice, sweetness, and crunch. Their simple shape also makes them practical for serving alongside other Christmas cookies.
Ingredient Notes for Recipe for Norwegian Cookies
This Norwegian cookie recipe uses pantry-friendly ingredients, but a few details help create the best flavor and texture.
- Butter: Use room-temperature unsalted butter so it creams smoothly with the sugars and creates a tender cookie.
- White Sugar and Brown Sugar: The combination gives the cookies sweetness, structure, and a deeper caramel-like flavor.
- Molasses: Molasses adds color and a rich flavor similar to the dark syrup often used in Scandinavian baking.
- Cinnamon: Cinnamon gives Brune Pinner their warm holiday spice.
- Sanding Sugar: Sanding sugar adds sparkle and crunch. Pearl sugar or demerara sugar can also work well.
- Chopped Almonds: Almonds add a traditional nutty topping and make the cookies look especially festive.
See the recipe card below for the complete ingredient list with exact measurements.
Prep Ahead Suggestions for Norwegian Cookies
Brune Pinner are a great make-ahead Christmas cookie because the dough can be prepared before baking day.
- Refrigerate the Dough: Mix the dough, wrap it well, and refrigerate it for up to 5 days. Chilling helps the dough firm up and makes it easier to shape.
- Freeze the Dough: Shape the dough into logs, wrap tightly, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking.
- Chill Before Baking: If the dough feels soft after shaping, chill it for at least 30 minutes to help the cookies hold their shape.
Pro Tip for Better Brune Pinner
For the best texture, avoid overmixing once the flour is added. Mix only until the dough comes together. If the dough becomes too warm or sticky, chill it before shaping. This helps the cookies bake evenly and keeps them from spreading too much in the oven.
How to Make Traditional Norwegian Christmas Cookies
These Scandinavian Christmas cookies are made by creaming butter and sugar, adding the egg yolk and flavorings, mixing in the dry ingredients, shaping the dough into logs, and topping with egg white, sugar, and almonds before baking. While still warm, the baked logs are sliced diagonally into small cookie strips.
These are the basic steps for making Norwegian cookies. Refer to the recipe card below for detailed instructions and measurements.
1. Prep and Cream the Butter and Sugars
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, cream the room-temperature butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Separate the egg, reserving the egg white for brushing the cookies later. Add the egg yolk, molasses, and vanilla to the butter mixture and mix until combined.
2. Mix the Dry Ingredients and Form the Dough
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and cinnamon. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix just until the dough forms. Divide the dough into six equal portions, then roll each portion into a log about 6 to 7 inches long.
3. Top and Bake the Brune Cookies
Place the logs on a baking sheet, leaving room for spreading, and flatten each log to about 1/4 inch thick. Lightly beat the reserved egg white, then brush it over the tops of the dough. Sprinkle with sanding sugar and chopped almonds. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, watching closely so the cookies do not overbrown.
4. Cut and Finish
Let the cookies cool for 3 to 4 minutes. While they are still warm, use a sharp knife to slice each baked log diagonally into 1/2-inch strips. Transfer the cookies to a rack and let them cool completely before serving or storing.
How to Store and Freeze Brune Pinner
- Storing: Once the cookies are completely cool, store them in an airtight container.
- Freezing: Freeze baked Brune Pinner in a well-sealed container. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
- Serving: These cookies are delicious on their own and pair well with coffee, tea, or a Christmas dessert tray.
Variations and Substitutions for Sand Cookies
Every family has its own version of Brune Pinner, and small changes can make this Norwegian cookie recipe fit your holiday baking style.
- Sugar: Use pearl sugar, demerara sugar, or sanding sugar for the topping. Vanilla sugar can add a gentle extra flavor.
- Nuts: Almonds are classic, but pistachios, hazelnuts, or walnuts can also be used as a topping.
- Spices: Ginger, nutmeg, or cardamom can be added in small amounts for a different Scandinavian-inspired flavor.
- Shapes: The traditional diagonal slices are simple and pretty, but the dough can also be shaped for a more decorative presentation.
Norwegian Butter Cookies Recipe FAQs
The syv slags kaker tradition refers to serving seven kinds of cookies, often during the Christmas season. The exact cookies vary by family, but Brune Pinner are a popular choice because they are flavorful, festive, and easy to make.
Brune Pinner means “brown sticks” in Norwegian. The name describes the shape and golden-brown color of the cookies.
Almond extract, a small amount of cardamom, or a little extra cinnamon can be added for more flavor. Be careful not to add too much liquid extract, as it can change the texture of the dough.
Expert Tips for Making this Norwegian Dessert Recipe
Cookies are an important part of Scandinavian holiday baking, and Brune Pinner are a simple way to bring those cozy flavors into your kitchen.
- Use Soft Butter: Room-temperature butter creams more evenly with the sugars.
- Do Not Overmix: Once the flour is added, mix only until combined to keep the cookies tender.
- Roll Evenly: Logs of similar size will bake at the same rate.
- Leave Space: These cookies spread as they bake, so do not crowd the baking sheet.
- Slice While Warm: Cutting the cookies after a short cooling period gives clean diagonal strips.
- Watch the Oven: The cookies can brown quickly, so check them near the end of the baking time.
Norwegian Cookies (Brune Pinner)
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring cups
- Electric mixer
- Baking sheet
- Sharp knife
Ingredients
- 14 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup sanding sugar
- 1 cup chopped almonds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until fluffy.
- Separate the egg and reserve the egg white. Add the egg yolk, molasses, and vanilla to the butter mixture and mix until combined.
- In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and cinnamon.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until fully combined.
- Divide the dough into 6 even portions.
- Roll each portion into a log about 6 to 7 inches long and about 1/2 inch in diameter.
- Place 2 logs on a baking sheet and flatten each to about 1/4 inch thick, leaving room for spreading.
- Repeat with the remaining dough.
- Whisk the reserved egg white in a small bowl until loosened.
- Brush the egg white over the tops of the cookies.
- Sprinkle with sanding sugar and chopped almonds.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the cookies have spread and are lightly browned.
- Cool for 3 to 4 minutes, then slice diagonally into 1/2-inch strips with a sharp knife. Allow to cool completely.
Recipe Notes
- Spices: Add ginger, nutmeg, or cardamom for a slightly different flavor.
- Texture: Do not overmix the dough after adding the flour.
- Shape: Roll the logs evenly so the cookies bake consistently.
- Baking: Keep a close eye on the cookies because they can brown quickly.
- Storage: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 30g
Protein: 2g
Fat: 8g
Saturated Fat: 4g
Sodium: 68mg
Sugar: 21g
Nutritional information is an estimate. For the most accurate results, verify the information with your preferred nutrition resource.
This recipe is a personal adaptation of an ethnic-inspired recipe. It is not presented as an authentic Norwegian recipe. It was recreated to celebrate the flavors of Brune Pinner in a way that is accessible for home bakers using common ingredients and simple methods.