Pepparkakan – the history
The “pepparkaka” is a thin, spread and spiced cookie symbolizing Christmas time. It was in the 19th century that this little cookie became a Christmas cake, but its history is much longer.
The origin of gingerbread goes back to medieval Germany, where “Lebkuchen” was baked in monasteries and the most well-known town for its production was Nürnberg. Influenced by the German kitchen, the Swedes got acquainted with gingerbread during the middle of the 15th century. Notes from the monastery in Vadstena show that the nuns baked and ate gingerbreads at that time – mostly for medical reasons. As merchandise, the cookies came to Sweden in the 16th century, which custom declaration from 1534-1536 proofed, and they were sold in pharmacies at monasteries, bakeries and on markets.
It was not until the 18th century that the first recipe for Swedish gingerbreads could be found in a Swedish cookbook and first then they entered Swedish homes. In the beginning, the “pepparkaka” was a delicacy baked for very festive occasions, like Christmas. When more people were able to buy wheat, sugar and spices during the 19th century, the cookie became the traditional Christmas cookie of today.
Pepparkakan – medicine and candy
From the beginning, the gingerbread was actually an all-year-round cookie which above all was sold as a medicine. Even the German name “Lebkuchen” implies that it was said to have healing qualities. The dough was first sweetened with honey and according to Greek, Egyptian and Roman mythology, honey was a gift of the Gods. Therefore it was almost given that the cookie got a healing and life-affirming reputation. With spices like pepper, cloves, ginger, cinnamon, cedar oil, nutmeg, lemon and orange peel it was said to heal digestion problems, tooth pain, depressive mood and other illnesses.
It is said that the “pepparkakor” were prescribed to the Swedish-Norwegian-Danish King Hans (regency 1497-1501) in order to cure his bad mood. A pharmacy in Copenhagen sent several kilos of gingerbread to the King. Maybe the saying that people get kind of eating a “pepparkaka” is going back to the fact that King Hans’ cure worked out?
Due to so many different seasonings, the taste of the medieval gingerbread differs a lot from today’s “pepparkaka”. Nowadays the seasoning with ingredients like syrup, ginger, cloves and sugar forms the Swedish gingerbread – which by the way is gaining popularity beyond Sweden’s borders!
Pepparkakan – shape and taste
Most Swedes have their own favorite recipe, but in case you would like to prepare a simple, but Swedish and tasty variant, you can try this recipe, published by Visit Sweden.
Mostly the Swedish gingerbread is served with mulled wine and coffee, but also with sparkling wine. Some hard or creamy cheese or prosciutto on top of a cookie goes excellent with that.
It is also popular to create gingerbread houses – cute ones with a lot of candies for the youngest or art creations like castles and other shapes. This tradition came to Sweden in 1880, when Grimms Fairy Tales with “Hansel and Gretel” was read in wealthy homes.
The most common shape of a “pepparkaka” is a heart, a symbol of love that was already used for gingerbread in medieval monasteries. Even pigs and angels are shapes from that time – the pig stood for welfare and the angel for goodness. Today it is popular with all kinds of shapes and everyone has their own favorite.
Make your own Swedish gingerbread
Add a new recipe to your christmas bakery collection!
Källa: Annas, Västergötlands Museum, Danska Wienerbageriet, Visit Sweden.