I am inspired by the stories and traditions passed down from generation to generation. Norwegian cooking at its simplest and most elaborate. That’s what you will find here. Seasonal cooking, local ingredients, local artisans, and simple gatherings.  READ MORE...

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17

December 2018

December 17, 2018

Brune Pinner (Norwegian Christmas Cookies)

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Meal Type

Brune Pinner (Norwegian Christmas Cookies)Brune Pinner (Norwegian Christmas Cookies)Brune pinner directly translates to “brown sticks” – a direct reference to their appearance, but an understatement in terms of their taste. They’re somewhat similar to gingerbread/pepperkaker, but with a strong hint of syrup and cinnamon, and a topping of sugar and almonds to accentuate every bite.

They also happen to be one of the most beloved Christmas cookies in Norway. Their incredible flavor and ease in making are probably what makes them stand out and has given way to their popularity across the country, with some considering them as one of the 7 Norwegian Christmas cookies, or syv slags julekaker. They are also known as karamellpinner, or kolakaker in Sweden.

Brune Pinner (Norwegian Christmas Cookies)Brune Pinner (Norwegian Christmas Cookies) Brune Pinner (Norwegian Christmas Cookies)Brune Pinner (Norwegian Christmas Cookies)Brune Pinner (Norwegian Christmas Cookies)These are one of my personal favorite cookies to make during the holidays and I like to use a mixture of white and brown sugar in my recipe, for flavor and texture. When making brune pinner, feel free to swap the almonds for another nut you may prefer, or omit if you have allergies.

Brune Pinner

(makes about 60 brune pinner)

  • ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons (200 g) butter, at room temperature
  • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (100 g) dark brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon dark, Norwegian syrup “mørk sirup”  (you can substitute with light molasses or Lyle’s Golden Syrup or an inverted sugar syrup)
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 2 ½ cups (300 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla sugar or essence of vanilla
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon

To top/decorate:

  • 1 egg, beaten
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) pearl sugar
  • 1 ½ tablespoons chopped almonds

Preheat the oven to 350 °F / 180 °C. Have ready 2 baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

In a large bowl or mixer, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy and light in color. Whisk in the syrup and egg yolk (and the vanilla essence, if not using vanilla sugar).

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, vanilla sugar, and cinnamon. Pour into the sugar mixture and combine until you form a nice dough.

Divide the dough into 6 pieces and roll each one out into a long, thin sausage, about 9 ½-inches (24 cm) in length. Place 3 pieces on each baking sheet, with space between. With your fingers, press each piece flat to form an oblong shape that is about ¼-inch (½ cm) thick.

Brush each piece with the beaten egg and sprinkle with the pearl sugar and chopped almonds, using as much or as little as desired.

Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from the oven. While still warm, use a knife to cut each piece into small strips on an angle, about ½-inch (1 to 1 ½-cm) wide. Store in a cookie tin for a couple of weeks.

*The cookies will be more crunchy towards the ends of each piece and a little chewier in the center. They will harden throughout the longer they are kept in their cookie tin.  


Look here for more holiday cookies and inspiration  ♥

Nevada Berg

Nevada is a utah native and norwegian by heart. When not crafting culinary delights she enjoys her family time and tending to her animals. You most certainly can find her perusing her property for wild berries.

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  1. Janice Quick says:

    These are delicious! I am always looking for new things to add to my Seven Sorts. As soon as your post came up, I realized that I had everything I needed, used Golden Syrup. They are already done, cooled and packed in a tin. But I had to sample and I love them. I did a combo of sparkling and pearl sugar with the almonds. I usually can’t leave a recipe alone. But I don’t think I will tinker with this beyond the sparkling sugar. It’s perfect.

  2. Kayla says:

    OMG! I’ve been meaning to make brunepinner for years. When I came across your site (I believe you posted about your cookbook in AiN?) and this recipe, your pictures sold me ???? just made them and they’re insanely good! I may like them more than pepperkaker ???? we used slivered almonds instead since that’s what we had, and chilled the dough for a bit because it’s so hot in the kitchen. This is going to be a staple every Jul! Tusen takk!

  3. Paul Strandoo says:

    I grew up in a Norwegian-American home with loads of Norwegian cookies and pastries but I don’t recall ever seeing these, so I gave them a try this past Christmas. Needless to say, they were a big hit with my family and friends, so I’ll be making them again for sure. A new tradition! Thanks!

  4. How did we miss this one? Wow. Pinned ASAP!:) Stunning photos, and now we’re both having sugar cravings lol:) Exceptional work Nevada.
    Sending you our love,
    Mirella and Panos

  5. Agnes says:

    I made it exactly as you wrote (using cups not metric system) and the dough ended up being very crumbly and wouldn’t hold. I used a hand mixer. Should I have mixed it for longer? Or maybe next time try to use metric? Maybe was too much flour. Love your website!!

    • nevada says:

      Hi Agnes! I am so sorry to hear that it came out crumbly. Yes, I would try measuring the flour in grams as it could just be the type of flour. Let me know how it goes for you the next time you make it 🙂

  6. Jessica says:

    We made these today. My sons and I loved them. My youngest said he would prefer these to gingerbread. Lovely recipe! Thank you!

  7. Elisabeth says:

    Really lovely. Thank you so much for making these recipes available and for doing the research to provide such a great backstory.
    I am gluten free and dairy free, and didnt have any of the syrups you listed. But subbed a gluten free flour, stick margarine, and half tablespoon of dark molasses and half tablespoon of corn syrup. While I’m sure its even better with all the correct ingredients, they are really really wonderful.
    Thank you so much!

  8. Karen says:

    Unique and delicious! Thank you!

  9. Karen says:

    So easy to make and tastes great!

  10. Anne Kvitvang says:

    These are one of the Christmas bakes i have to do every year, especially after moving from Norway to England. Have fond memories throughout my childhood of one of my relatives making these for Christmas. In my native Trøndelag we called these Oppdalinger, why- well nobody has been able to enlighten me about that. For ease i have started to call them Cyrup sticks when offering them to friends here, as yes it sounds more apatising than brown sticks.

  11. GINGER KNIRIMEN says:

    I don’t see a print option on your recipe. How can I print it?

    • nevada says:

      Hi Ginger, I don’t have the print option on my website, but you can copy and paste to a document to print 🙂

  12. Celia Metz says:

    I just made these this afternoon to share tomorrow at our first Daughters of Norway in person meeting since February 2020! I think this would be a great recipe to make with kids as the dough is simple and it’s easy to roll out and flatten. God Jul!

  13. Jenni says:

    Thank you for a delicious and very easy recipe! My whole family loved it!

  14. Eva Anderson says:

    What a very nice cookie! Light and delicate but very easy to make.
    Tak for matin!

  15. Bridget Manz says:

    Would gluten free flour work for this cookie?

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