Fattigman Cookies

By
Kari Diehl
Kari Diehl
Freelance food writer who specializes in Scandinavian cuisine and is the author of "The Everything Nordic Cookbook."
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 01/23/23
Poor Man Cookies (Fattigman) on plate on wooden floor by fir branches

Kari Diehl
Prep: 60 mins
Cook: 5 mins
Total: 65 mins
Servings: 24 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
564 Calories
58g Fat
12g Carbs
2g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 24
Amount per serving
Calories 564
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 58g 74%
Saturated Fat 6g 29%
Cholesterol 23mg 8%
Sodium 73mg 3%
Total Carbohydrate 12g 4%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 12mg 1%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 21mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Scandinavia is known for its delicious sweets. One of those is the classic fattigman cookie. Although they are made of almost the same ingredients as many baked sweets, fattigman cookies are quickly fried rather than baked on an elegant cookie iron.

You will need a pastry cutter to get the scalloped edges that are the traditional shape; if you don't have a pastry cutter, you can certainly just cut straight edges. Once cut, you form the diamond shapes into knots by pulling one end of the diamond through a center slit. The addition of a tablespoon of cognac, brandy, or bourbon is optional but it serves the purpose to help keep the dough from absorbing as much oil during frying.

Add these to your holiday cookie baking for a whole new taste experience.

Ingredients

  • 2 large eggs

  • 1/4 cup superfine baker's sugar

  • 1 tablespoon cognac, or brandy, optional

  • 3 tablespoons butter, melted

  • 1/3 cup heavy cream, whipped into stiff peaks

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 teaspoon cardamom, freshly ground

  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 6 cups canola oil, for frying

  • Vanilla sugar, or confectioners' sugar, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for Poor Man Cookies
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  2. Cream together eggs, sugar, and brandy, if using.

    Mixed eggs and sugar in glass bowl forPoor Man Cookies
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  3. Stir in melted butter.

    Butter stirred into mixed eggs and sugar in glass bowl forPoor Man Cookies
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  4. Gently fold whipped cream into batter.

    Whipped cream folded into batter for Poor Man Cookies
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  5. Sift together flour, cardamom, baking powder, and salt.

    Flour, cardamom, baking powder, and salt sifted together for Poor Man Cookies
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  6. With a light hand, mix dry ingredients into batter to form a soft dough. You want to avoid handling dough too much. Otherwise, cookies will end up tough.

    Mixing dry ingredients into the batter to form a soft dough in bowl forPoor Man Cookies
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  7. Chill dough, covered, for at least 30 minutes or overnight.

    Dough in bowl with plastic wrap for Poor Man Cookies
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  8. Roll chilled dough out on a floured board to a thickness of 1/8 inch.

    Rolling dough out with rolling pin for Poor Man Cookies
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  9. Using a fattigman cutter or a pastry cutter, cut dough into diamond shapes about 1 1/4-inch wide by 3 1/2 inches long. If you're using a pastry cutter, cut dough first into 1 1/4-inch strips and then cut across these diagonally to form diamonds.

    Diamond cuts into dough for Poor Man Cookies
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  10. Use a knife to cut a 1/2-inch slash in the middle of each diamond.

    Knife cuts slit in middle of each diamond of dough for Poor Man Cookies
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  11. Twist one corner of each diamond up through center slash to make a knot.

    Corner of each diamond folded into slit for Poor Man Cookies
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  12. Heat 2 inches of oil in the bottom of a heavy pot to 375 F.

    Thermometer measuring temperature of liquid in pot forPoor Man Cookies
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  13. Drop in pastry knots and fry until golden brown, turning occasionally.

    Pastry knots deep frying in pot of oil for Poor Man Cookies
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  14. Remove and drain on paper towels.

    Poor Man Cookies draining on paper towel
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  15. Sprinkle cookies with vanilla sugar or confectioners' sugar and serve immediately.

    Poor Man Cookies
     The Spruce

Storage

You can store your cookies for up to a week in an airtight container. But many people think they taste best as soon as they've cooled enough to enjoy, immediately after frying.

Tip

If you're preparing the cookies ahead, store them in an airtight container without sprinkling with sugar. Warm them in a low oven before serving and then sprinkle with the sugar.

Variations

One traditional way to cook fattigman cookies is in lard rather than oil. Lard was common before today's cooking oils came into vogue. Many who have tried both far prefer those cooked in lard, so you may want to give that a try.