Baseler Leckerli (Swiss Spice Cookies)

"This recipe is posted in response to a request. It's adapted from a recipe by Otto Eckstein, executive pastry chef at the Pan Pacific Hotel in San Francisco, CA."
 
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photo by carolinajewel photo by carolinajewel
photo by carolinajewel
photo by carolinajewel photo by carolinajewel
Ready In:
1hr
Ingredients:
12
Yields:
60-72 cookies
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ingredients

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directions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
  • Sift together the flour, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, nutmeg and baking soda.
  • Combine honey, sugar and water in a small saucepan.
  • Place over low heat until the honey just melts- do not let it boil.
  • Transfer the mixture to the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer fitted with the dough hook.
  • Let cool slightly.
  • Add the sifted flour mixture, the almonds, orange peel and lemon zest.
  • Blend until the mixture comes together in a heavy, sticky dough, adding a spoonful or two of water if needed.
  • (The mixing can be done by hand, but it's labor intensive) Resist the urge to add more water to make the dough easier to handle; it would impair the texture of the finished cookies.
  • Spread the dough about 1/2 to 1 inch thick on the baking sheets, forming 3 rectangles, each about 8 x 9 inches.
  • Bake for about 20 minutes, until the tops turn a medium brown.
  • When the dough rectangles have baked, remove pans to a rack and immediately brush the tops with glaze.
  • Let cool for 10 minutes.
  • Cut into 1 x 3-inch bars or into diamond shapes.
  • Transfer to racks to cool completely.
  • Ice with a simple sugar glaze.
  • Store in airtight containers, placing wax paper between layers.
  • Let rest at least 1 week, preferably longer.

Questions & Replies

  1. What is / How does one make a simple (sugar) glaze? 250g powdered sugar + 1-2 tbsp liquid (water, milk, lemon or other juice, etc.), or egg white?
     
  2. My Leckerli came out very hard. I may have let the honey get too hot. Is there a way to soften them in their storage container?
     
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Reviews

  1. My daughter and I made this for a school project on Switzerland. They were delicious and easy to make!
     
  2. Excellent cookies. I took them to a "Taste of Switzerland" party and was told they were better than the ones they brought home from Switzerland on vacation. I didnt have any candied orange peel so substituted candied fruit.
     
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