Ruiskakkuja

Otherwise known as Rye Cookies.
Last week, I picked up a copy of "The Finnish Cookbook" by Beatrice Ojakangas which has quite a few very awesome bread and cookie recipes. While perusing its pages I came across this awesome four-ingredient recipe for not-too-sweet cookies. Nothing against the ever popular chocolate chip cookie, but sometimes chocolate and sugar aren't at the root of a cookie craving. It's all about the butter and flour.

Although simple, these take a little elbow grease.. but in my opinion they're worth it.

here's what you need:

1/2 cup butter (room temperature)
5 tablespoons sugar
1 cup rye flour
1/2 cup (sifted) white flour


here's what you do:

Start by creaming together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. While still mixing, gradually add the rye flour and the white flour until you have something that resembles fine bread crumbs. Stop adding flour(no, really. stop!). Knead until the warmth of your hands form the mixture into a dough. If you need to, place your mixing bowl over a pan of hot water to speed up the process (super helpful if it's cold out or if you just have cold hands..). This took a lot longer than I thought it would and it will be especially difficult if you add too much flour.

Next, turn the dough out on a lightly floured surface and roll it out to about 1/8th of an inch in thickness. Cut into rounds and place onto a greased baking sheet. These cookies don't expand much (or at all) so don't worry about giving them too much breathing room. You're also supposed to cut a hole in the cookie slightly off center using a food coloring cap or something as small...but my cookies were a little too fragile, so I didn't worry about it I was happy when they made it to the baking sheet without falling apart). Prick each cookie with a fork and bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees for 5 to 7 minutes.

Traditionally, you eat these with your mid-afternoon cup of coffee, or if you have guests over. I thought they were perfect as-is, but they might also be good with jam if you want something a little sweeter.