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Drömmar

Crisp dream cookies

Drömmar: crisp, crumbly Swedish 'dream' cookies with baker's ammonia

Drömmar, 'dreams', are on almost every plate of the seven kinds of cookies that Swedish hosts traditionally set out for kafferep, the old coffee party, and grandmothers in Dalarna still bake them by the tin. They are pale, domed and so light they crack and melt on the tongue. That texture comes from hjorthornssalt, baker's ammonia, which smells strongly while baking but leaves nothing behind once the cookies are cooked through. Baking powder works too, but the cookies will be less airy. A common mistake is baking at a high heat; they must stay white. Chef's tip: bake in a low oven until completely dry inside, or the ammonia taste lingers.
Total time
40 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
24
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Ingredients

Serves24

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Method

0/5 done
  1. Step 1: Heat the oven to 300°F and line two trays.

    3 min
  2. Step 2: Beat 3 ½ oz soft butter, 3 ½ tbsp neutral oil, 5 ½ oz sugar and 2 tsp vanilla sugar until light and creamy.

    3 min
  3. Step 3: Mix 7 oz plain flour and 1 tsp baker's ammonia (hjorthornssalt) and work into the butter until it comes together as a soft dough.

    3 min
  4. Step 4: Roll into 24 walnut-sized balls and set them well apart on the trays.

    5 min
  5. Step 5: Bake one tray at a time for 20–25 minutes until risen, cracked on top and still pale, with a dry centre. The ammonia smell should be gone. Cool on the tray.

    25 min

Nutrition per serving

Calories
110 kcal
Protein
1 g
Carbs
14 g
Fat
6 g
Fibre
0 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does drömmar take?
About 40 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
24 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegetarian?
Yes. It has no meat or fish.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
What can I use instead of soft butter?
The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
What can I use instead of sugar?
Caster sugar, same amount.

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