Lagertha's Shield and Rune Cookies |
The name FUTHARK, for the The Viking Alphabet corresponds with the first six letters (Fehu, Uruz, Thurisaz, Ansuz, Raidho, and Kaunan). I studied Biological Anthropology in graduate school and took several courses on the Vikings and European Archaeology. I focused my Vikings research during their occupation in Greenland, and have been hooked on the Vikings show since it first aired. I have read all the sagas and studied Viking and Norse mythology. In my teens and twenties, I dabbled in runic divination but never got very far with it. I provide a few links below in case you want to read more about the runic alphabet and the significance of each rune.
Lagertha's Shield and Rune Cookies; bottom left rune: Othila and right next to it Uruz |
Lagertha's Shield and Rune Cookies |
2 ½ cups King Arthur All Purpose Flour
½ cup Toasted Black Sesame Seeds
¾ teaspoon Baking Powder
¼ teaspoon Coarse Salt
½ cup, 1 stick, Unsalted Butter, softened and cut into 8 pieces
2/3 cup Granulated Sugar
2 XL Eggs
2 tablespoons Milk (I used Silk Coconut Milk)
Lagertha's Shield and Rune Cookies; top left blank rune is known for Odin and represents The Unkowable in runic divination |
Directions
Add black sesame seeds to a skillet on medium heat and toast for about 5-7 minutes. You will smell the nutty essence when it is done. Remove from heat. Set aside to cool completely. Add to mortar and pestle and grind down for a few good minutes. I gave up after 5 minutes.
Lagertha's Shield and Rune Cookies |
Cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl of an electric mixer with paddle attachment on low to medium speed. Mix until incorporated, about 1-2 minutes.
Scrape sides of bowl with spatula and mix again for 5-10 seconds more.
Lagertha's Shield and Rune Cookies |
With the mixer on low, slowly add flour mixture until incorporated.
When dough clumps around paddle attachment, it is ready.
Form dough into a ball, cover with plastic wrap, and cool in fridge for 1-2 hours or overnight.
Lagertha's Shield and Rune Cookies |
Take 1/2 of the dough, use rolling pin, and roll out between 2 pieces of parchment paper to desired thickness, and cut out small circle shapes for the runes.
Repeat rolling the dough and cutting shapes until you have used it all. I used a larger round cutter with the extra dough.
Place cookies onto parchment lined baking sheets and space apart 2 inches. Use cookie stick or knife to carve out the rune alphabet.
Put cookies in the freezer for 10 minutes before baking. They hold their shape when you do this.
Lagertha's Shield and Rune Cookies |
Let cookies cool in baking sheet for 5 minutes and transfer to wire rack to cool completely, about 1 hour.
Let cookie sheets cool completely before you bake again. I put the cookie sheet in the freezer for 5 minutes.
Repeat until you have baked all the cookies.
Lagertha's Shield and Rune Cookies |
Ingredients
1 XL Egg Whites
1 teaspoon Lemon Juice, freshly squeezed
2 cups Powdered/Confectioners' Sugar, sifted
Some of the shortbread from the extra dough |
Directions
In a medium size bowl, whisk together the egg whites and lemon juice.
Transfer to stand or hand held mixer with paddle attachment and mix on high for 1-2 minutes.
With mixer speed on low, slowly add sifted sugar and beat on low until smooth.
If needed, you may add 1 teaspoon of water at a time until you reach the right consistency. Watch the Joy of Baking (link at the end) video for both Flooding Consistency and Piping Consistency Royal Icing. If you prefer a recipe using Meringue Powder, it is also available at this link.
I separated the icing in 2 plastic containers with lids according to the two colors I needed for tinting, and used Americolor Soft Gel Paste Food Color in Super Black, and Turquoise. Add 1-2 drops at a time until you reach the color you want.
Rune Cookie Teiwaz and cookie stick I used to carve the runic alphabet |
I transferred the icing immediately into Squeeze Bottles using a funnel to prevent it from spilling. Keep the squeeze bottle tips covered. If the Royal Icing hardens due to exposure to air, spray a little bit of water and shake bottle well holding the tip with your finger. Test the icing consistency on a paper towel before decorating the cookie.
Use a paintbrush or cookie stick to reach edges and use tip of cookie stick or a toothpick to pop any air bubbles.
I lined a cookie sheet with paper towels and placed the cookies on cooling tray over it.
Royal Icing in squeeze bottles |
I put a little bit of royal icing on the bottom of the small spherical top of the shield, and covered it in black royal icing. While it was wet, I took a small paintbrush and messed up the icing to make it looked rugged and worn. After all, the shields were used in many battles.
For further information:
For information on the Runes, please visit:
http://norse-mythology.org/runes/
For a visual on the names and meaning of the Runic Alphabet, please visit:
http://www.internationalmagicsociety.org/blogs/6
For Vikings on History Channel, please visit:
http://www.history.com/shows/vikings/about
Please visit Benebell Wen for the Rune Cookies recipe:
http://benebellwen.com/2015/08/03/edible-rune-divination-black-sesame-shortbread-rune-cookies/
Please visit, Joy of Baking for the Royal Icing Recipe and Video Tutorial:
http://www.joyofbaking.com/RoyalIcing.html
Enjoy!
-Sophia/Two Frys
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