It’s Sunday afternoon and I’m having a very late start to the day. I just could not get up this morning. And that’s okay. As long as I stick to a regular schedule on the weekdays, what I do on the weekends shouldn’t matter, right?
I think today is a great day to spend in the kitchen and do some baking. It’s not that I need the baking, but my cupboards are stocked up with baking ingredients and goodies to get me through the winter. And there isn’t much winter left – we’re almost half way through already. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself!
Yesterday, some kind hearted friends dropped off some baking that I had ordered from the church bazaar. The plan was to keep half for myself, and give half to my dad. But since we’re still in lockdown and he’s not allowed visitors – well, I kind of already ate half of the Kringle. The other one, wrapped in pretty wrapping paper is nestled in my freezer which is packed to the brim.
What is Kringle you might ask? It’s a delicious Danish treat that we have at Christmas time. It’s a not so delicate pastry that is sickenly sweet and high in calories. But at the same time, it’s oh so good. Heat it up in the microwave for about 30 seconds and you’ve got a warm and toasty breakfast or late day snack.
Excuse the fact that it’s sitting on my paper towel. Paper towel has been hard to get this month with the isolation restrictions. Doesn’t it look yummy?
I’m lucky that we have so many wonderful cooks and bakers in our community. Services have been cancelled until at least January, so I am missing my Danish connection very much. This time of year, we usually have parties, fundraisers, Christmas markets. But thanks to COVID-19, everything was either cancelled or moved to online services. For the bazaar, the church actually raised MORE money online this year, than in person over the years. Which just goes to show that people are eating more sweets than ever now.
Danish Butter Cookies
Most people know about the Danish butter cookies that you can buy in the stores. They’re my dad’s favorites. The cookies come in the infamous blue tin. But did you know that you can make your own soft cookies? As kids, we grew up with the Royal Dansk cookies which you can purchase from just about anywhere online all year round.
Brunekager
The other cookies you see in my picture are called Brunekager cookies. These are a classic Danish cookie that is served usually at Christmas time. These cookies are for those that love gingerbread cookies. They aren’t my favorite – I might have to send these to my dad in a care package as he loves them.
Klejner
Klejner is a fried dough pastry that is popular in Nordic countries and nearby European countries. This is a very old and taditional Danish Christmas snack that is served throughout the month of December. And it’s a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine. Unfortunately, most videos in youtube are in Danish – I could only find this channel, Scandinavian Today who has a tutorial in English.
My mouth is starting to water as I write this post out. This time of year is usually my favorite time of year for so many reasons. It’s the time of year I can learn more about my Danish heritage and indulge in all the goodies that come with Danish parties and celebrations. Unfortunately, we have moved all services online so I am really missing my ties to the community and family.
Luckily, I have some amazing friends who have offered to bring me treats. My freezer is stocked full with Kringle, Klejner and cookies made by friends with love. I even had another friend offer to drop off some medisterpølse to me today. This is a Danish a sweet and savory sausage that is served this time of year. And it’s a close favorite next to Frikadeller – which is a traditional Danish meatball that is often served with red cabbage.
And so, on that note – I think it’s time to reorganize my freezer and make room for some delicious goodies. What am I going to make today? Maybe some more cookies? Or muffins? Or pastry deserts? I don’t know! I very well may just wind up sitting in my comfy recliner, sipping eggnog and rum enjoying the other half of this amazing Kringle.
These are just a few of my family traditions that we celebrate each Christmas. What traditions do you celebrate in your home? Let me know in the comments! I’ll be sharing more posts like this in coming weeks leading up to Christmas.
Charmed Reflections 
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