Swedish Sugar Dreams Cookies (Drömmar)

4.4 from 36 votes

Posted December 20, 2021Last Updated October 28, 2024

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Made with a special secret ingredient (ammonium carbonate) these traditional buttery sugar cookies will literally melt in your mouth.

When my friend Melissa share the recipe for these Swedish Sugar Dreams Cookies, or Drömmar, I was definitely intrigued by the addition of an unusual ingredient I’d never heard of before.

Ammonium carbonate, or baker’s ammonia, was the primary leavening agent used by bakers before baking soda and baking powder were available.

Melissa told me I HAD to get the baker’s ammonia to make these cookies, and that nothing else would suffice, and she was absolutely right.

I’ve never had such light, airy, melt in your mouth cookies, and I never could have gotten the same magical texture with baking powder or soda.

There is one drawback to using baker’s ammonia, and it’s right in the name. It smells very, very strongly of ammonia.

In fact, baker’s ammonia was also used to revive Victorian ladies when they suffered a fainting smell. Luckily, this throwback to the 19th century is still available online.

Because of it’s strong odor, baker’s ammonia is only used for things like crisp cookies and crackers that will dry out completely during baking, otherwise the scent of ammonia would linger.

Amazingly, there was not a hint of ammonia–taste or smell–in these cookies. In fact, they are one of the most amazing little cookies I’ve ever baked or eaten.

Perfectly crispy and light as air, there really are no words to describe these wonderful cookies….but dreamy definitely works pretty well.

If you’re looking for a new cookie to make this holiday season, don’t let the idea (or smell) of baker’s ammonia scare you off. These Swedish Sugar Dreams (Drömmar) are absolutely delightful!

Be sure to save this recipe for Swedish Sugar Dreams Cookies (Drömmar) to your favorite Pinterest board for later.

Here’s what you’ll need to make Swedish Sugar Dreams Cookies (Drömmar)

Butter
Sugar
Vegetable oil
Vanilla
Flour
Baker’s ammonia (ammonium bicarbonate)

Swedish Sugar Dreams Cookies (Drömmar)

Made with a special secret ingredient (ammonium carbonate) these traditional buttery sugar cookies will literally melt in your mouth.

4.37 from 36 votes

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Course: Desserts

Cuisine: Swedish

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 30

Servings: 4 dozen

Calories: 79kcal

Author: Danelle

Ingredients

1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons butter
1 3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon baker’s ammonia
2 cups flour

Instructions

Preheat oven to 280 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Mix in vanilla.
Gradually mix in the oil and stir until combined. Stir in the baker’s ammonia.
Add the flour and continue mixing until well incorporated.
Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and place 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 17-20 minutes, or until firm and cracked on top.