Finska Pinnar, also known as “Finish Sticks,” are a traditional Swedish shortbread cookie, a popular dessert to make during the Christmas holiday baking season.
Our easy homemade recipe features a soft and buttery shortbread topped with a festive mixture of crunchy chopped almonds and pearl sugar.
Serve slices of Finska Pinnar with a hot pot of coffee or tea at your next fika!
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What Is Finska Pinnar?
Finska Pinnar (Finish Sticks) are rich and buttery shortbread cookie that can be found in cafes, bakeries and homes from Stockholm to Malmo!
The origin of Finnish Sticks doesn’t have anything to do with Sweden’s neighbour. According to culinary historian Dick Harrison’s article in Svenska Dagbladet, he claims that similar cookies have existed in Southern Skåne as well as Northern Norrland, and it’s difficult to say where the cookie got its start.
The oldest recipe can be found in Hemmets Kokbok from 1917, which features “finska kaffebröd”, or Finnish fika cookies. The dough includes butter, flour, sugar and bitter almonds. The cookie is brushed with egg white and you then decorated with chopped almonds and pearl sugar.
They’re traditionally served topped with crunchy white pearl sugar and chopped roasted almonds, which makes them look like logs dusted with fresh snow. Which is why Finska Pinnar is one of our favourite desserts to bake during the Christmas holidays.
These addictive yet simple cookies are buttery, crunchy and perfect with a cup of coffee at Swedish fika.
What Is Swedish Fika?
Fika is often translated as “a coffee and cake break”, which is mostly correct, but locals in Sweden will attest it is much more than that.
The word fika actually derives from the 19th-century slang word for coffee: kaffi. Invert the word kaffi, and you get fika!
Fika is a concept, state of mind, attitude and important part of Swedish culinary culture. Many Swedes consider that it is almost essential to make time for fika every day. It means making time for friends, family and colleagues to share a cup of coffee (or tea) and a petite Swedish pastry, like Finska Pinnar.
Fika cannot be experienced at your desk at work or at home by yourself. Swedish Fika is a communal ritual. Swedish children are taught that it is important to make time to stop and socialize during the day.
Locals believe taking a pause to refresh your brain and strengthen you relationships is important. It also makes business sense: Swedish firms have found teams work better and are more productive when fika is institutionalized.
Fika can also be used as a verb in everyday conversation. Swedes will often say to each other, “Let’s go and fika!” or “You and I fika together well”.
While not exactly the same, we often liken Swedish Fika to Britain’s tradition for relaxing mid-day over an elegant High Tea.
Travel To Sweden by Making Finska Pinnar at Home
I love traveling to Europe!
During my first visit to the continent I traveled for 5 months by train and plane. I had the opportunity to eat my way through Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Holland, Russia, Estonia, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Croatia, Bosnia, Hungary, Slovakia, Greece, Turkey and Italy.
I’ve also traveled extensively through Scandinavia, eating my way through the best restaurants in Westfjords, Reykjavik, Helsinki, Oslo, Bergen, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Goteborg.
My fondest food memory of Sweden is the country’s enthusiasm for cakes, pies and cookies! I was in Goteborg on Midsommar, instantly falling in love with Jordgubbstårta, Smörgåstårta and traditional Finska Pinna thanks to all the local bakeries selling thick slices.
There’s nothing more delightful than sipping a frothy cappuccino at a Swedish cafe while nibbling a plate of crunchy Swedish Almond Shortbread Cookies.
Once back home from a Scandinavian holiday you’ll have a newfound appreciation for the flavours of Sweden and can impress friends and family by making your very own homemade Finska Pinnar recipe!
My Family Loves Swedish Almond Shortbread Cookies
After encountering Finska Pinnar on a visit to Sweden I thought I should introduce the simple almond shortbread cookies to my family.
I knew my parents would love this pastry because they enjoy rich buttery shortbread (we’re from Scotland, so obviously), pastries that pair nicely with coffee and festive Christmas cookies.
I prepared the almond shortbread with my mom a few days before Christmas. The pearl sugar and chopped almonds on top appear like snow, making it an eye-catching Christmas cookie to place on a holiday dessert table.
While we enjoy snacking on Finska Pinnar simply dunked in coffee, they taste great when paired with a bowl of ice cream.
Ingredients
Shortbread Dough
- 175 g Cold Butter cubed
- 250 g All Purpose Flour
- 50 g Ground Almonds
- 50 g White Sugar
- 1 Egg Yolk
- 2 tsp Almond Extract
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
Topping
- 50 g Chopped Almonds
- 50 g Pearl Sugar
- 1 Egg White
Directions
- In a food processor, pulse the butter and flour with the ground almonds and sugar until well mixed. Add the egg yolk, almond + vanilla extract and pulse until the dough sticks together and is smooth. Rest in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Put the pearl sugar and chopped almonds in a bowl and mix until combined.
- Roll the dough into 18×20 inch logs. Brush with egg white and sprinkle with sugar and nut mixture.
- Cut into pieces approximately 2 inches long. Place on a prepared baking sheet, nut/sugar side up.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 8-11 minutes until just browned at the sides. Transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool. Store in an airtight container.
Finska Pinnar Recipe Baking Tips
Ready to bake our homemade Finska Pinnar? We suggest reading the recipe directions below in detail to ensure you understand the step by step process. Here are some ticks and ticks to get you started:
- Be sure to use cold butter in this recipe (as you would when making pie pastry) to ensure you achieve the desired classic shortbread texture.
- Don’t over mix the dough to ensure the shortbread are tender and not tough.
- You can use store bought almond flour or simply make your own by blending roasted almonds in a food processor.
- Do not overdo the egg wash. You want to brush just enough so that the pearl sugar adheres to the surface of the dough while baking.
- While traditional Finska Pinnar are topped with chopped almonds you can substitute with chopped pecans, walnuts or hazelnuts if you prefer.
What To Serve With Swedish Almond Shortbread
While Finska Pinnar is often served during the Christmas holiday season the recipe can be enjoyed all year round.
Swedish Almond Shortbread are traditionally enjoyed on their own or sipped with a pot of tea or coffee. If you’re feeling truly decadent, we like to add two or three cookies to a bowl of with vanilla or chocolate ice cream.
If you’re hosting a Scandinavian inspired lunch or dinner you may like to serve Finska Pinnar with these popular recipes:
- Rabarberkage Swedish Rhubarb Cake
- Swedish Rhubarb and Custard Tart
- Köttbullar med Gräddsås Swedish Meatballs
- Swedish Sandwich Cake Homemade Smorgastarta
- Kardemummabullar Swedish Cardamom Buns
- Jordgubbstårta Recipe: Gluten Free Swedish Strawberry Meringue Cake
- Tebirkes Danish Poppy Seed Pastry
- Flodeboller Danish Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Cookies
- Boller I Karry Danish Meatballs in Curry Sauce
You May Also Enjoy These Cookie Recipes…
- Olive Oil Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Roasted Hazelnut Ferrero Rocher Cookies
- Flodeboller Danish Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Cookies
- Nussecken German Nut Corners
- Vegan Dairy Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Healthy Aussie Anzac Biscuits
- Vegan Flourless Chickpea Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Lemon Lavender Shortbread Cookies
- Easter Toffee Cadbury Mini Egg Cookie Bars
- Healthy Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies
- Gevulde Speculaas Dutch Cherry Almond Spice Cookies
- Dark Chocolate Lindt Lindor Cookies
- Oat Flour Cookies with Chocolate Chips
How To Store Shortbread
If you have leftover shortbread store them in a container for 3-4 days.
We like to double the recipe as the cookies freeze well and can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
How To Make Traditional Swedish Finska Pinnar
Finska Pinnar Swedish Almond Shortbread Cookies
Equipment
- baking sheet lined with parchement paper
- Food processor
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- mixing bowl
- Pastry brush
- French knife
Ingredients
- 175 g Cold Butter cubed
- 250 g All Purpose Flour
- 50 g Ground Almonds
- 50 g White Sugar
- 1 Egg Yolk
- 2 tsp Almond Extract
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
Topping
- 50 g Chopped Almonds
- 50 g Pearl Sugar
- 1 Egg White
Instructions
- In a food processor, pulse the butter and flour with the ground almonds and sugar until well mixed. Add the egg yolk, almond + vanilla extract and pulse until the dough sticks together and is smooth. Rest in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Put the pearl sugar and chopped almonds in a bowl and mix until combined.
- Roll the dough into 18×20 inch logs. Brush with egg white and sprinkle with sugar and nut mixture.
- Cut into pieces approximately 2 inches long. Place on a prepared baking sheet, nut/sugar side up.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 8-11 minutes until just browned at the sides. Transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool. Store in an airtight container.
Nutrition
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