Recipe(tried): Swedish Wish Cookie (Pepparkakor)

SWEDISH WISH COOKIES (PEPPARKAKOR)

3 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 egg
2 T. molasses
1 T. water
1/2 tsp. grated orange peel

Sift together dry ingredients. In large bowl, beat butter, add sugar, beat until fluffy. Add egg, molasses, water and peel. Beat well. Add flour mixture, mixing well. Chill dough about 2 hours.

On lightly floured surface, roll dough 1/8 inch thick. Cut with cookie cutters. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

(To make a wish, place a cookie in the palm of your hand. Press in the center of the cookie with one finger of your other hand. If the cookie breaks into three pieces, and you can eat all three pieces without saying a word, you get to make a wish).

Cookies may be left plain or decorated with thinly piped designs or writing. (Generally the ones made as wish cookies are left plain and cut in a kind of floral design with nine rounded points or petals).