Spiced Cookies
Spiced cookies are a type of cookie that is typically made with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. They can be chewy or crunchy, and are often studded with raisins or other dried fruits. These cookies have their origins in ancient times, when people would add spices to their food to help preserve it. Today, spiced cookies are enjoyed all over the world and are a popular holiday treat. Spiced cookies are great and super popular for making Christmas Cookies!
Here are some fun facts about these delicious cookies:
-The first recorded recipe for spiced cookies dates back to the 13th century.
-A popular German variety of spiced cookie is called Lebkuchen, which means “life cake”.
-In Sweden, there is a tradition of eating spiced cookies on St. Lucia’s Day (December 13th).
-The Dutch have their own version of spiced cookies called speculaas, which are often made in the shape of windmills or other Dutch landmarks.
Prep Time: 20 Minutes - overnight rest!
Cooking Time: 15 Minutes
Ingredients for around 20 cookies:
All-Purpose Flour - 250g
Sugar - 180g
Baking Powder - 3 teaspoons
Ground Ginger - 1 teaspoon
Ground Cinnamon - 2 teaspoons
Ground Nutmeg - 1/2 teaspoon
Eggs - 2
Butter - 160g
Icing Sugar - 250g
Salt - a pinch
Preparation:
We start making these cookies by melting the butter and leaving it aside to cool.
Take your eggs - beat one egg very lightly with a fork. We will use the other egg later.
Take a bowl and slowly sift the flour into it, then add the sugar and the baking powder and mix with your hands. Now add the cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg and a pinch of salt. Mix again using your hands.
Now add the whole egg that you lightly beat before and mix everything together. Work the dough until it’s nice and elastic then wrap it in clingfilm and put it to rest in the fridge overnight. Now, you can also not let it rest so long but be aware that the cookies might not be as good - as a rule of thumb let it rest at least one hour if you really have no time.
Pre-heat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and prepare your baking sheet by placing parchment paper on top.
Take your dough and on a clean lightly floured surface roll it until it’s around 3/4 mm think. You can now make different shapes or simply make circles. Once you’ve cut out the cookies place them on the baking sheet.
Bake for 15 minutes, remove and place them on a rack to cool.
Take your second egg and divide the yolk from the egg white. Put the yolk away as we will not be using it we will only need the egg white.
Place the egg white in a bowl and beat it with a fork then add the icing sugar (sifted) and keep mixing until you get a nice soft consistency.
You can now use a piping bag to decorate your cookies.