Thursday, September 15, 2011

Uppåkra - Swedish Potato Cookies



From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...There are certain foods that trigger memory and take from it the sights and sounds and smells of childhood and them drop them in the moment we call now. They are called comfort foods for a reason and one of my favorites is Uppåkra, or Swedish potato cookies. These are shatteringly crisp gems that are made with butter, potato starch and very little else. They have brown edges and, when properly made, will literally melt in your mouth. The potato starch gives them a slightly sandy texture that I find irresistible. I don't make them often because self-disciple eludes me and I can't limit myself to eating just one or two. I learned to make these in the Swedish kitchen of my childhood. While my teacher was patient in the extreme, the truth is this cookie is very simple to make. The challenge comes with shaping them and over the years I've changed the way I do it. While the recipe I am sharing today uses what I call a roll and press technique, I find it much easier to form this butter rich dough into a cylinder that can be cut to the desired thickness once it is chilled. A quarter of an inch is just about right. This is an adult cookie that is perfect with afternoon coffee or tea. It's not particularly pretty to look at, but it is truly delicious. While there are scores of recipes for Uppåkra, I hope you'll give this one a try. It's my favorite and makes cookies that will make your socks go up and down.

Uppåkra (Swedish Butter Cookies)...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of Mrs. P

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup potato starch
1 cup flour

Directions:
1) Cream together butter and sugar in a mixer or with a pastry blender. Beat in salt, egg and vanilla and almond extract. Sift together flour and potato starch, then add slowly to butter mixture and beat until combined. Chill dough for about an hour.
2) Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
3) Roll into small balls and place on parchment lined cookie sheets. Press each ball gently with bottom of a glass to flatten to a thickness of 1/4-inch . Place 1 inch apart on prepared pans. Bake for about 10 minutes or until edges of cookies are brown. Yield: 36 cookies.









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42 comments :

tasteofbeirut said...

LOve these and can't wait to try the potato starch in a cookie dough, since the only time I have used potato in sweet is with my grandmother's fritters.

Ginny Hartzler said...

What two things could be better than potatoes and cookies?

Banana Wonder said...

Oh, yum!! I am going to send this recipe to my Swedish-American friends. I have never really used potato starch/flour before for baking. Must try!

Pondside said...

This looks and sounds like a cookie I've had in Denmark - just the thought of it has me wishing for one.

Diane said...

This is interesting though I am not sure that I have ever seen potato starch! Diane

Anonymous said...

I will definitely make thois.Something new that seem intertesting (and yummy) enough to try:)

Sprigs of Rosemary said...

Oh my gosh, Mary, I didn't even need a picture to know what these wondrous cookies you described taste like. I'm guessing heaven. I just happened to make a mental note that my local store had started to stock potato starch -- I must have been psychic.

Martha said...

I love adult cookies and these sound like great cookies for coffee or tea -- But I've never heard of them!!!! I will have to try them.

Kim said...

These cookies, as simple a they look, looks pretty good. I never use potato starch but I have used tapioca starch in a dough. The result was awesome!

Anonymous said...

These look simply delicious and I lover that there is a hint of almond with the almond extract :)
Mary

pam said...

Oh, I love "adult cookies"!

mely said...

potato flour! This I most try.
Thank you for a very interesting recipe. It also sounds easy.

Unknown said...

Delicious!! These cookies look fantastic.. and I love the simplicity of them. Although I've never had them before, I know I would love them!!

Sue/the view from great island said...

These look lovely. One of my favorite childhood cookies is made with corn starch, but has a completely different texture. Yay for adult cookies!

What's Baking?? said...

Looks crispy thin. I'm sure it tastes good.

Priya Suresh said...

Super delicious cookies, marvellous..

Paris Pastry said...

Are you from Swedish descent? I loooove Scandinavian food. These looks absolutely delicious!!

Silver Strands said...

Holy Schmoly Mary! I don't know how you found my blog but WOW! I'm the lucky one here! I'm your newest follower and know that I'll enjoy every mouth-watering word you write! Have a fun weekend - and I'm so looking forward to being friends with you!
Denalee

Anonymous said...

How fun! These cookies look great.

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Hi there! Thanks for coming by my blog. This is a really interesting recipe. Where do you get potato starch? Or is that something you make from potatoes yourself? I've never used it before!

lena said...

mary, you sounded so good that i need to keep this recipe!

Joanne said...

Well, given how much I love potato bread, I think it's only right that I give these cookies a try!

T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...

I think I've put on a few pounds visiting your blog this week! I've never heard of cookies made with potato starch but this has made me immensely curious to give it a try.

Ma What's 4 dinner said...

Now that is my kind of cookie! I've never heard of these but they sound divine! I'll have to whip up a batch soon. Isn't funny how food and music can take you on such wonderful journeys to your past? Thanks for sharing your history with us.

Lots of yummy love,
Alex aka Ma What's For Dinner
www.mawhats4dinner.com

Vicki said...

Hello, thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you stop by often. These cookies look wonderful. I will be checking out your other recipes!

That Girl said...

Simple to make cookies are definitely the most dangerous.

teresa said...

what a fun cookie! it looks so good!

the brown shed said...

Mary,

I found your blog through the comment you left on mine. I'm so glad I did! What a beautiful blog, and the food looks wonderful! I look forward to perusing through your recipes!

Christi

Angie's Recipes said...

Those cookies must be very crumbly and melt-in-mouth delicious!
I think I still have a pack of potato starch in the pantry. This seems a perfect recipe to use them.

Rambling Tart said...

I spent several years in California surrounded by amazing Swedish cooks who churned out dozens of delicious cookies. I love them all and these look and sound just perfect with a cup of strong coffee. :-)

Anonymous said...

I love food like this that reminds you of childhood memories. These cookies sound divine. I've actually never tried potato cookies, but I sure would now after seeing this recipe. :)

Swathi said...

Delicious, Love to try them.

Mary said...

Thank you so much for your comment on my blog! Your blog has made me very hungry. :)

Erin said...

I have never seen cookies like this. They sound wonderful! Thanks so much for your sweet comment on my site - means a lot coming from you and your wonderful site!

Kristi Rowley said...

Thanks for stopping by my Blog. I just browsed yours and can already see many new things I would love to try. Thanks also for your compliment about my blog.

Not Supermom said...

Ooooooooh, those look delicious. And I've got a vast quantity of potato starch at the moment.

Can someone help a girl out on the proper pronunciation of the name, though?

greenthumb said...

Hi, just found your blog I have enjoy reading your posts will have to give some of them a go.

Unknown said...

"Adult cookie" is one of the best terms I've heard in a while.

France@beyondthepeel said...

I've never worked with potato starch before. Is this something you buy? I love the sound of these cookies. I bet they're delicious.

Aldy said...

Love these cute cookies! They look so moist and delicate :) Great recipe, Mary!

Hugs <3

Aldy.

Carolyn T said...

Mary, do you use unsalted butter for this? I see there is added salt in the ingredient list, so I'm assuming you probably use unsalted butter. I wouldn't want to end up making overly salted cookies. I was looking for something different to make this year for Christmas, and this recipe just sounds right!

Mary Bergfeld said...

Carolyn, I used unsalted butter in these cookies. I hope you like them. They magically disappear when I make them for my crew. Have a great weekend. Blessings...Mary

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