Best Gewurz Knusperchen Spice Christmas Cookies Recipes

SPEKULATIUS (GERMAN SPICE COOKIES) RECIPE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large bowl, cream granulated sugar and vanilla sugar with butter until well combined.
• Beat in eggs, one at a time.
• Sift or whisk together flour with baker's ammonia or baking powder , salt, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom.
• Stir into creamed mixture until it forms a stiff dough.
• Shape dough into a ball, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 or more hours (overnight is best).
• Oil and flour a spekulatius mold. Tap out all excess flour.
• Roll a golf ball-size piece of dough between your lightly floured hands into an egg shape. Press the dough into the mold, filling all crevices.
• Use a sharp knife or piece of kitchen twine to cut off excess dough, so the dough is flush with mold. Tap the mold on the counter to release the cookie, or use a sharp knife to start the release of cookie.
• Carefully place the cookie on a cookie sheet and repeat with the rest of the dough.
• If this process becomes too onerous, or you do not own any cookie molds, roll the dough 1/8 inch thick (2 to 3 ml) and cut out cookies using your favorite cookie cutters.
• Bake in an oven heated to 350 F for 10 to 12 minutes or until the cookies brown slightly around the edges. These cookies can be decorated like conventional sugar cookies, but the old-fashioned mold imprints should not be overshadowed, nor should the delicate flavor of the dough be masked.
• Serve and enjoy!

MOIST AND CHEWY LEBKUCHEN (GERMAN SPICED CHRISTMAS COOKIES) RECIPE

Steps:

• If Making Individual Round Cookies: Chill dough until quite firm, about 4 hours. Working in 2 batches, line 2 large cookie sheets with parchment. Dip a 1 3/4-inch ice cream scoop (2 level tablespoons) into water, shake off excess water, and scoop level scoops of dough. Roll into balls and place 2 inches apart. Bake in the lower and middle thirds of the oven, shifting pans from top to bottom and front to back halfway through, until a toothpick inserted in center of cookies comes out clean, about 18 minutes. Slide parchment onto a wire rack to let cookies cool slightly while you bake the remaining cookies.

GEWURZPLATZCHEN (SPICE COOKIES)

Steps:

• Cream butter, shortening, and brown sugar thoroughly.
• Blend in egg and molasses.
• Sift together the remaining ingredients.
• Stir into sugar mixture.
• Shape dough into 3/4-inch balls.
• Place 2-inches apart on greased baking sheets.
• Flatten each ball with the bottom of a glass that has been greased and dipped into sugar.
• Bake in preheated 350°F for 12-15 minutes.
• Cool cookies on racks and store in airtight tins.

SPICED CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Steps:

• In a very large bowl, beat the molasses, butter, sour cream and lemon juice until well blended. Combine the flour, brown sugar, spices, baking soda, lemon zest and salt; gradually add to butter mixture and mix well. Stir in the walnuts, raisins and candied peels. Cover and refrigerate until easy to handle, about 30 minutes., Divide dough into 4 portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each portion to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-1/4-in. round cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° until bottoms are lightly browned, 10-12 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely., Combine frosting ingredients until smooth. Frost cookies; decorate with cherries. Store in an airtight container.

FESTIVE SPICE COOKIES

Steps:

• Sieve the flour, spices and salt together into a bowl and set aside. Cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy, then add the honey and beaten egg. Stir to fully combine. Sift in the dry ingredients in a few batches. The mixture will be a bit stiff but still soft and not dry.
• Divide the dough into two batches and wrap the halves in cling film. Refrigerate overnight or for at least 3-4 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 170°C. Line several large baking trays with greaseproof paper, or if they are non-stick simply butter them and set aside.
• Lightly flour the work surface, then roll out one half of the dough. Stamp out festive trees using a tree-shaped cutter. Lay on the baking sheets with spaces between them, then add on the smarties or other coloured beans.
• When you have stamped out enough to fill the tray, place in the oven and bake for 8 - 10 minutes. They want to be golden in colour but still fairly soft as they harden up a little after cooking. Repeat this process until all the mixture has been used up. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.

LEBKUCHEN SPICE MIX (LEBKUCHENGEWURZ)

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well to combine. Store in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Kept in a dark, cool place, the mix will stay fresh for 1 year.

GEWURZ-KNUSPERCHEN - SPICE CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Steps:

• 1. Cream butter and sugar together until well blended. Add egg and vanilla.
• 2. In a separate bowl combine all dry ingredients and mix well.
• 3. Gradually add dry mixture to the butter mixture.
• 4. Roll out dough on a floured board to 1/8" thickness. Cut with your favorite shaped cookie cutters and place on ungreased cookie sheets.
• 5. Bake at 350 just until edges start to turn a slight brown.
• 6. Cool and decorate as desired.
• 7. Note: These cookies are best when rolled very thin.
• 8. Photo is from Google images.
• 9. She says the authentic German way to make these is to NOT use a mixer. She measures ALL ingredients onto countertop, cuts in butter and "kneads" by hand until it is all combined.