Finnish Chestnut Fingers Recipes

FINNISH CHESTNUT FINGERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 F. Cream butter and 1/4 cup sugar; add egg yolk. Beat till light and fluffy. Beat in puree and vanilla. Stir together flour, salt, and cinnamon; stir into creamed mixture. Using scant tablespoon dough for each cookie, roll into 2-1/2 inch fingers. Dip one side of each finger in egg white, then in additional sugar. Place sugar side up an greased cookie sheet and bake until slightly browned, about 20 minutes. Remove from pan; cool on rack. Melt chocolate chips in double boiler over low heat. Dip one end of each cookie in chocolate; place on waxed paper until set.

FINNISH STAR COOKIES (JOULUTORTTU)

Steps:

• Whisk together flour, baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and cream cheese on medium speed until well combined, about 1 minute. Add sugar and lemon zest and continue to beat until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add 1 egg and beat until combined. Beat in flour mixture on low speed until combined. Divide dough in half. Shape each half into a square, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate until firm, 1 to 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Remove one-half of dough from the refrigerator. On a lightly floured sheet of parchment, roll out dough into a square about 1/8 inch thick. Cut out squares using a 3 1/2-inch square cutter, then carefully transfer to prepared baking sheets, spaced about 1 1/2 inches apart. If dough becomes too soft, transfer parchment with dough to a baking sheet and refrigerate until firm.
• Place 1 teaspoon preserves in the center of each square. Using a small paring knife, cut 1 1/4-inch slits diagonally from each corner toward the filling. Fold every other tip over to cover filling, forming a pinwheel. Press lightly to seal. If dough becomes soft, refrigerate until firm.
• Lightly beat remaining egg with remaining pinch of salt. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush tops of cookies with egg wash. Bake until edges are golden and cookies are slightly puffed, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool on sheets 5 minutes, then transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough.