It is not Christmas if pepparkakor are not on the cookie plate!  I LOVE Christmas baking!

Ingredients:

• 1 c dark corn syrup or light molasses
• 1/2 c brown sugar
• 1/2 c sugar
• 1/2 c butter
• 1 whole egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 Tab sour cream
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp ginger
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 1/2 c flour and about 2 more cups of flour

Directions:

1. Preheat oven 400°.
2. Lightly grease cookie sheet.
3. Heat syrup to boiling .
4. Add sugars and butter.
5. Stir until disolved.
6. Add eggs and sour cream.
7. Transfer to large mixer bowl. (large bowl and stand mixer)
8. Beat well.
9. Sift dry ingredients.
10. Add to syrup mix.
11. Add enough additional flour so the dough does not flow.
12. Chill several hours until firm (overnight).
13. Cut on floured cookie cutter into hearts and stars.
14. Decorate hearts with candied cherries and stars with almonds.  (cut cherries/almonds to size appropriate to the cookie)
15. Bake until barely brown – about 8 minutes.

Serves:  10 – 12 dozen depending on cookie cutter size.

Source:  Winifred Kleerup