Dessert · Snack · Swedish · European ·

Swedish Pepparkakor Cookies with Cardamom and Ginger

Name: Swedish Pepparkakor Cookies with Cardamom and Ginger
Prep time: 50 min
Cook time: 150 min
Total time: 200 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Dessert
Ingredients: All-purpose flour, 2 1/3 cups; Baking soda, 1 teaspoon; Ground ginger, 1 teaspoon; Ground cardamom, 1 teaspoon; Ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon; Ground cloves, 1/2 teaspoon; Freshly ground black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon; Salt, 1/2 teaspoon; Unsalted butter, 1/2 cup, softened; Sugar, 3/4 cup; Dark molasses, 1/2 cup; Egg, 1; Extra flour, for rolling

Fragrant and spiced, these thin and crispy cookies are a festive treat, perfect for the holidays.

4.1(202 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·January 24, 2026

Swedish Pepparkakor Cookies with Cardamom and Ginger — Dessert served and photographed from above

Prep

50 min

Cook

2 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Dough

For the Wet Mixture

For the Dusting

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 61 kcal
Protein: 0.77 g
Carbs: 10.28 g
Fat: 2.01 g
Fiber: 0.23 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 3061 kcal
Protein: 38.6 g
Carbs: 514 g
Fat: 100.33 g
Fiber: 11.6 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
All-purpose flour 2 1/3 cups	1061	30	226	3	8
Baking soda 1 teaspoon	0	0	0	0	0
Ground ginger 1 teaspoon	7	0.2	1.6	0.1	0.2
Ground cardamom 1 teaspoon	6	0.2	1.3	0.1	0.6
Ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon	6	0.1	2.1	0.03	1.4
Ground cloves 1/2 teaspoon	3	0.1	0.7	0.1	0.8
Freshly ground black pepper 1/2 teaspoon	3	0.1	0.7	0.1	0.6
Salt 1/2 teaspoon	0	0	0	0	0
Unsalted butter 1/2 cup, softened	813	1	0	92	0
Sugar 3/4 cup	580	0	150	0	0
Dark molasses 1/2 cup	480	0	126	0	0
Egg 1	72	6	0.6	5	0
Extra flour for rolling	30	1	6	0	0.2

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Making the Dough

1
Sift dry ingredients
In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, and salt. Set aside.
2
Cream butter and sugar
In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
3
Incorporate molasses and egg
Add molasses and egg to the butter mixture and beat until well incorporated.

Combining and Chilling

1
Form the dough
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a smooth dough forms.
2
Chill the dough
Divide the dough in two, flatten into disks, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until firm.
Tip: Ensure the dough is thoroughly chilled to avoid sticking. Pro Tip: Chill the dough disks on a baking sheet for extra stability.

How to Make Swedish Pepparkakor Cookies with Cardamom and Ginger

Total time: 3 h 20 min · Yields 4 servings

1
Roll out the dough
Use a floured surface to roll each disk to 1/8-inch thickness.
2
Cut out shapes
Use cookie cutters of your choice to cut out shapes. Transfer to lined baking sheets.
3
Bake
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.