Norwegian-Inspired Valentine Treats: Cookies, Candy & Fudge

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching! What are you going to do to make the day special for your loved ones? Sure, you could go buy some treats and consider it done, but why not put some love into making your own treats with a Norwegian flair? And if you're short on time or want a little something extra, our Cinnamon & Sugar Uffda Chips and Swedish Kringla make perfect Valentine’s additions. They’re ready-to-serve, full of nostalgic flavor, and pair beautifully with coffee or cocoa!

This week’s blog will feature strawberry divinity with dried strawberries. Not only does this recipe make a pretty pink candy, it tastes divine—probably why it's called divinity! Meringues are featured in a lot of Norwegian recipes. Divinity makes use of beaten egg whites as well as walnuts and strawberries. The best thing about this recipe is that you can change the candy to fit your fancy. Any flavor of fruit gelatin can be used as well as any kind of nuts or coconut.

Everyone knows that the Norwegians use a lot of potatoes in making lefse, but potato candy puts a totally new twist on the potato! The chocolate coated candy with its colorful Valentine sprinkles will never reveal its humble roots! It tastes just like a Mounds bar!

The easy to make Almond Spritz cookie is reminiscent of the Norwegian Kransekaketenger. An edible pearl decorates each of the cookies with elegant simplicity.

Chocolate is a favorite in Norwegian culture. This time I chose to make a cherry walnut fudge using my recipe for Mackinac Island fudge. The buttery, deep chocolate fudge beautifully complements the cherries and walnuts.

Heart thumbprint cookies perfectly suit Valentine’s Day. The heart indentations are made with two simple presses of your little finger and one press of your thumb! I used some Lingonberry preserves and some Cloudberry preserves that I got from Norsland Lefse, but you could use any fruit preserve. For these cookies I used the thumbprint cookie recipe you can find on the May 23, 2025 blog.

Strawberry Divinity

• 3 cups white sugar
• ¾ cup light corn syrup
• ¾ cup hot water
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 egg whites
• 1 three ounce pkg. strawberry gelatin
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 ounce dried strawberries (or ½ cup coconut)

1. Stir the sugar, corn syrup, hot water and salt together in a 2 quart saucepan over medium heat until dissolved.
2. Cook over medium heat to 250 degrees on a candy thermometer (hard ball).
3. Beat two egg whites to a soft peak and beat in the dry gelatin until stiff.
4. Pour hot syrup into the mixture and beat until gloss is lost.
5. Add one cup chopped walnuts and dried strawberries.
6. Drop by teaspoonfuls on waxed paper and allow to cool.

Potato Candy

• ¾ cup hot mashed potatoes
• 4½ cups powdered sugar (and more)
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 13 ounces flaked coconut
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 16 ounces melting chocolate
• Valentine sprinkles

1. Peel and boil the potatoes until done; mash as is (add no milk or seasonings).
2. Mix all the ingredients together in a mixing bowl except the chocolate. Add more powdered sugar as needed to form a moldable dough that is not sticky. Since potatoes vary in moisture, you’ll need to adapt as needed.
3. Use a one-inch diameter cookie scoop to form balls; finish by smoothing each by hand.
4. Place the balls in the freezer for ½ hour or so.
5. Melt chocolate in a double boiler and dip the balls into the chocolate and sprinkle with the Valentine sprinkles to finish. Let them dry. I store these in the refrigerator since they have potatoes in them.

Almond Spritz Cookies

• 1 cup shortening or butter
• ¾ cup white sugar
• 1 egg and water to total ¼ cup
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 2¼ cups flour
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cream shortening and sugar well in a mixing bowl.
3. Add egg, almond extract, salt and baking powder and mix well.
4. Gradually add flour while mixing.
5. Load into a cookie press with a heart pattern; press the cookies out onto an ungreased, cool cookie sheet.
6. Top each cookie with an edible sugar pearl.
7. Bake for about ten minutes; cool on a wire rack.

Cherry Chocolate Fudge with Walnuts

• 1 Stick (8 tablespoons) butter
• ½ cup milk
• ½ cup white sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup walnuts
• 5 ounces dried cherries

1. Butter a cookie sheet well. Combine butter, white and brown sugar, milk and salt in a 2-quart saucepan and bring to a boil; Boil for six minutes on a low heat, stirring constantly.
2. Cool slightly; add vanilla extract, cocoa and powdered sugar; beat well until smooth.
3. Stir in walnuts and cherries, reserving some nuts and cherries to decorate the top.
4. Pour the fudge on the buttered cookie sheet and cool.
5. Pull the fudge together to form a log; add the decorative nuts and cherries to the top. Refrigerate for ½ hour.
6. Cut into serving pieces.

Heart Thumbprint Cookies

See the May 23, 2025 blog for ingredients and general instructions. When you are ready to form the cookies, roll them into one inch diameter balls. Press with your little finger diagonally and then again in the other direction diagonally, meeting at the center of the cookie. Finish by pressing your thumb in the bottom middle to form a heart.

Looking to round out your treat tray with even more love? Don't forget to include some of our Cinnamon Sugar Uffda Chips or a soft, subtly-sweet Swedish Kringla - both are beloved Norsland favorites that guests will gobble up.

Have fun making your very own homemade Valentine’s Day treats. I’m sure all the recipients of the treats will enjoy both them and your thoughtfulness! I plan on taking some to friends and neighbors to spread the love!