I first saw The Nordic Baking book in real life in Portree in a shop called ÒR. I couldn’t actually afford it at the time because I was busy buying about five other books (and the rest of the stock — everything in there is gorgeous!) but the Nordic Baking Book played on my mind. I ended up buying it full price in Waterstones in town as soon as I got paid — I couldn’t wait for our next trip to the Hebrides.

The Nordic Baking Book is a collection of baking recipes from around the Nordic Region. Obviously. It’s a documentary book so all the recipes are in their traditional form. You know, not vegan. But I can work with that. I’m trying to veganise one recipe a week out of there. Both this week of Mofo theme and my experiments started with biscuits.

Blondkakor – Peasant Shortbread Cookies

Veganised by replacing the butter with 1/3 vegetable fat (Trex) and 2/3 margarine (Vitalite)

Buttery shortbread studded with whole almonds. Leaving the skin on is something I wouldn’t think of doing for a cookie but it really brings the almond flavour. The only issue is they don’t keep. Turns out that isn’t a problem though.

Chokladsnittar – Chocolate Cuts

Veganised by replacing the butter with Naturli Block

Chocolate shortbread studded with pearl sugar. These babies didn’t last very long either. So delicious. They aren’t strongly chocolatey, just light and sweet and perfect with a hot drink.

Mandelskopor – Almond Rusks

Veganised by using Naturli block instead of butter, and eggs replaced with 4 teaspoons of flax, 6 tablespoons of oat milk and an extra 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder.

I needed another almond hit. The idea leaving the skin on the almonds is something I haven’t come across in my usual Anglo-American baking. It’s the best thing ever though. I worried if the skins would add a funny texture but you don’t notice it. All you notice is the incredible almond taste. So I had to try these Almond Rusks, and they did not disappoint.

I’m afraid that’s all of my biscuit experiments for now but I’m having so much fun here that I doubt they’ll be the last.