Originally a popular wooden children’s toy, the Dala horse has become a symbol of Sweden as well as Christmas. This holiday season, celebrate the history of Sweden with your own special gingerbread Dala horse cookies!
Materials
◆ Gingerbread ingredients (see below)
◆ Horse-shaped cookie cutter
◆ Royal icing or decorating frosting (can be found at your local craft store)
◆ Frosting bags (zip-top bags also work)
◆ Toothpick
Gingerbread Cookie Ingredients
◆ 3 cups all-purpose flour (384 grams)
◆ 1/2 tsp salt
◆ 1 Tbsp ground ginger
◆ 2 tsp ground cinnamon
◆ 1/4 tsp ground cloves
◆ 6 Tbsp unsalted butter (room temperature)
◆ 3/4 cup brown sugar
◆ 1 egg
◆ 1/2 cup unsulphured molasses
(don’t use blackstrap molasses)
◆ 2 tsp vanilla
Cookie Baking Instructions
◆ Preheat oven to 375° F.
◆ With a hand or stand mixer, mix butter and sugar until combined.
◆ Add egg and mix until combined.
◆ Add molasses and vanilla.
◆ Slowly mix in salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and flour until dough starts to form.
◆ Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Use horse-shaped cookie cutters to cut into shapes. Bake on a parchment-lined baking sheet for 8-9 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Let cool before decorating.
Dala Horse Cookie Decorating Steps
Spoon your frosting into a bag and tie it off at the top. Squeeze to warm up. If your frosting is too thick, you can heat up for a few seconds in the microwave to get the right consistency before placing it in the bag.
◆ Cut off a small tip on the corner of your bag. Start small! You can always cut it bigger if needed.
◆ Practice making lines and circles on a piece of paper before you start your cookies. Press into the cookie at the start and end of each line or dot.
◆ Look up Dala horses for design inspiration (or check out our picture!) and decorate your cookies with fun patterns.
◆ Tip: You can use a toothpick to move your frosting if it goes off course a little, or completely wipe it off and try again!
◆ Set aside and let frosting set until hard to touch (usually a few hours).
◆ Share your Dala horse cookies and enjoy!
*Recipe inspired by The Kitchen Paper
This DIY Dala Horse cookies recipe appeared in the November/December issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!
