Best 6 Baseler Leckerli Swiss Spice Cookies Recipes

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**Journey into Sweet Swiss History with Basler Leckerli and its Honey-Spiced Companions**

Indulge in a delectable odyssey through the world of Basler Leckerli, a traditional Swiss cookie that has captivated taste buds for centuries. This article presents a collection of enticing recipes that capture the essence of these beloved treats. From the classic Basler Leckerli, with its aromatic blend of honey, candied orange and lemon peel, and a symphony of spices, to the tempting variations of Schoko-Leckerli, where rich chocolate complements the symphony of flavors, and Zitronen-Leckerli, where the brightness of lemon zest takes center stage, this culinary journey promises a symphony of flavors to tantalize every palate. Discover the secrets behind these delectable creations and embark on a delectable expedition into the heart of Swiss confectionery artistry.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

BASELER LECKERLI (SWISS SPICE COOKIES)



Baseler Leckerli (Swiss Spice Cookies) image

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.

Provided by EdsGirlAngie

Categories     Dessert

Time 1h

Yield 60-72 cookies

Number Of Ingredients 12

4 1/2 cups flour
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup honey
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons water
1/2 cup unblanched slivered almonds
1/2 cup candied orange peel, chopped
1/2 lemon, zest of, grated

Steps:

  • 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.

BASLER LECKERLI (SWISS CHRISTMAS COOKIE BARS)



Basler Leckerli (Swiss Christmas Cookie Bars) image

Basler Leckerli means 'little delicious things from Basel'. And that is just what they are - chewy little cookies that are spicy and fruity at the same time. And they get better the longer they're stored! (egg-free, dairy-free, gluten-free option included)

Provided by by Margaret Bose Johnson, Kitchen Frau

Categories     Baking

Time 2h40m

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 cups (250gms) finely chopped almonds ((1½ cups whole almonds, chopped))
1/3 cup (60gms) packed candied orange peel
1/3 cup (60gms) packed candied citron peel
zest of one organic lemon
4¼ cups (600gms) regular flour (or 4 cups/550gms gluten free flour blend)
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1½ teaspoons ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1½ cups (500gms) honey
1 cup (200gms) natural evaporated cane sugar (or 1⅓ cups/200 gms coconut sugar)
¾ cup (90gms) icing sugar/powdered sugar/confectioner's sugar
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons water

Steps:

  • Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper that sticks up at least one inch (2.5 cm) on each side.
  • Finely chop the almonds and candied peel. You can do this by hand or in the food processor (much easier). For the food processor, chop the almonds coarsely first, then add the peel and process together until they are evenly ground, with little chunks of the nuts still remaining.
  • In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the chopped nuts, peel, lemon zest, flour, spices, baking powder, and salt.
  • Heat the honey and sugar in a small pot on the stove until the sugar is melted and the honey is warm. Do not allow it to boil.
  • Pour the hot honey over the flour mixture and stir or mix (in the stand mixer) until the batter is blended into a thick, sticky dough. It will be very firm.
  • Divide the dough in two and put half into each prepared pan. Use a metal spoon to scrape the remaining dough out of the mixing bowl and add it to the rest.
  • Using damp fingers (keep dipping them in water as needed), push and pat the dough into a 9" x 13" (23 x 33 cm) rectangle on each cookie sheet. Work quickly while the dough is still warm, as it gets harder to work with as it cools. This takes effort and muscle. Pinch off pieces of dough from the thicker spots and press them into the thinner spots until the rectangle is of even thickness. Pat the top smooth with damp fingertips. Dock the dough all over with a fork (poke the fork straight down through the batter until it touches the cookie tin, 1 to 2 inches apart, all over the dough rectangle). Trim off excess parchment paper so it sticks up no more than one inch (2.5cm) above the cookie dough.
  • Allow the pans to rest at room temperature, covered with a clean dish towel, for two hours or up to overnight.
  • Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
  • Bake the cookie sheets for 15 to 18 minutes, rotating them halfway and using a spatula to press down any parts of the dough that have bubbled or bulged up. The edges of the dough should just be starting to brown.
  • While the cookies are baking, whisk together the glaze ingredients.
  • Brush the glaze all over the top of the two cookie rectangles as soon as they come out of the oven.
  • While still warm, lift the cookie slabs from the cookie sheets using the parchment paper to hold onto, and transfer them onto a large cutting board. Cut the cookie slabs into 1" x 2" (2.5 x 5 cm) bars. You can trim off a thin strip from the outside edges first, if desired. Use a large, sharp knife and work quickly to cut the cookies while still warm, as they are hard to cut once they cool.
  • Allow the cookies to cool.
  • Store the cookies in an airtight, covered container. The are best if left for at least a week to soften and mellow the flavours, but need a minimum of one day in the container before they should be eaten.
  • The cookies will keep for up to two months, in a sealed container at cool room temperature and up to six months in the freezer (age at room temperature for one week before freezing). If you're storing the cookies at room temperature and they get too hard, put a few wedges of apple or some orange peels into the container with them and after a few days they will have softened considerably.
  • Make 8 dozen Basler Leckerli cookie bars (that sounds like a lot, but they are small and keep forever! (They freeze well, too).

BASEL LECKERLI SWISS HONEY SPICE COOKIE



Basel Leckerli Swiss Honey Spice Cookie image

It was written in a old Nebraska cook book. Basil Leckerli Swiss cookie is a pioneer recipe. I know that the Swiss settled here; I am writing recipe as written; no temperatures or amounts given.

Provided by Dienia B.

Categories     Dessert

Time 1h

Yield 25 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 1/2 cups honey
2 cups sugar
5 1/2 cups flour
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon anise
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 tablespoon clove
2/3 cup citron, chopped
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
3 eggs
1/2 cup fruit juice
1 lemon
1/2 cup powdered sugar

Steps:

  • Simmer the sugar and honey in a double boiler until melted; cool.
  • Add the rest of ingredients except frosting.
  • Mix.
  • Spread in a thin sheet and bake until done.
  • Frost with thin frosting made of lemon and powdered sugar as soon as cookies are baked.

SWISS BASLER LECKERLI (BASEL COOKIES)



Swiss Basler Leckerli (Basel Cookies) image

Makes 1 cookie sheet of cookies. For ZWT II('06). Times don't include overnight(or 5-6 hours)of drying before naking.

Provided by Nana Lee

Categories     Bar Cookie

Time 45m

Yield 12-14 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

225 g honey (16 ounces)
150 g sugar (10.5 ounces)
3/4 tablespoon cinnamon
1 pinch clove powder
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
50 g ground candied orange peel
50 g ground candied lemon peel
100 g ground almonds
1 lemon, zest of, grind
50 ml kirsch (0.2 cup)
300 g flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
75 g confectioners' sugar
1 1/2-2 1/2 tablespoons kirsch or 1 1/2-2 1/2 tablespoons water

Steps:

  • Put honey, sugar, cinnamon, clove powder and nut meg in a pan, heat up slowly, then remove from stove.
  • Add candied orange peel, candied lemon peel, almonds and grind skin of lemon, stir until mixed evenly.
  • Add kirsch, flour and baking powder, knead on a table to form a soft dough.
  • While the dough is still warm, roll it out on the back of a greased baking sheet approximately 5 mm (0.2 inches) thick.
  • Let it rest for about 5 to 6 hours or over night in a dry place.
  • Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes in the center of the pre-heated oven at 430°F(220°C).
  • Mix confectioner's sugar and kirsch or water, frost dough immediately.
  • Cut off stale edges.
  • Cut dough in small pieces (5 x 3 cm, 2 x 1.5 inches), take them off the baking sheets and let them cool.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 350.6, Fat 4.5, SaturatedFat 0.4, Sodium 32.5, Carbohydrate 75.9, Fiber 2.1, Sugar 54.7, Protein 4.5

BASLER LECKERLI (SWISS SPICED HARD BARS)



Basler Leckerli (Swiss Spiced Hard Bars) image

These are very special bars developed by the local spice merchants and made with lots of honey - very sweet, they taste just wonderful... The Leckerli was invented between 1431 and 1449. It was used to feed church dignitaries when the pope was in Basel.

Provided by Artandkitchen

Categories     Bar Cookie

Time 1h20m

Yield 100-150 cookies

Number Of Ingredients 16

800 g honey
300 g unbleached slivered almonds
400 g sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon
2 pinches ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
100 g candied orange peel, chopped
100 g candied lemon peel, chopped
1 lemons lemon, grated zest only (optional)
60 ml kirsch
1 teaspoon baking soda (optional) or 1 teaspoon potash (optional)
1000 g flour
250 g sugar
110 ml water

Steps:

  • Melt honey very slowly in a pan, add almonds, sugar and swirl until the sugar is melted too.
  • Let cool slightly.
  • Add all other ingredients until the Kirsch and mix well.
  • Add the flour and eventually the baking soda and work to a compact dough.
  • Roll the dough out on two greased baking sheets approximately 5 mm thick.
  • Store overnight.
  • Preheat the oven at 180°C (heat and timing are basing it on convection oven).
  • Prepare the glaze heating in a pot water and sugar until boiling point. Reduce the heat but let it boil slowly.
  • Bake 15-20 minutes at 180°C (I need 18 minutes).
  • In the meanwhile the glaze should be ready. It takes about 15 to 20 Minutes until it thickens, it's bound and crystals appear.
  • Remove from the heat but keep on a slightly warm plate.
  • When the dough is baked, remove pans to a rack and immediately cut in rectangles (but don't separate them completely) brush the tops with glaze.
  • When cooled dived the rectangles and store in airtight containers.
  • Note: you can built a gingerbread house with this dough! I used 3 fold quantities for the gingerbread house of the picture!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 110.1, Fat 1.6, SaturatedFat 0.1, Sodium 2.6, Carbohydrate 23.2, Fiber 0.8, Sugar 14.8, Protein 1.7

BASLER LACKERLI (SWISS SPICED HONEY COOKIES)



Basler Lackerli (Swiss Spiced Honey Cookies) image

From Gourmet magazine, December 1994. When I was growing up, my grandma's sister would send us a tin of Basler Lackerli every year for Christmas. I loved those cookies so much and haven't forgotten the taste. I picked up a few issues of Gourmet magazine at a library sale. Imagine my surprise when I came across this recipe. I even made my own candied orange peel. Although this isn't the exact recipe I remember, it is pretty close, and I hope to surprise, and delight, a few people at Christmas this year.

Provided by Ms. Poppy

Categories     Bar Cookie

Time 1h13m

Yield 42 cookies

Number Of Ingredients 14

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup honey
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons kirsch
1/2 cup candied orange peel, finely chopped (about 3 oz)
1 1/2 cups almonds, whole natural (about 8 oz)
1 tablespoon water
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar

Steps:

  • Preheat over to 325 degrees. Line bottom and sides of a buttered jelly-roll pan, 10 1/2 x 15 1/2 x 1-inch, with foil and butter foil.
  • Make dough:.
  • Chop almonds very fine but not ground, preferably in a food processor. In a bowl whisk together flour, spices, baking powder, and baking soda. In a large heavy saucepan heat honey and granulated sugar over moderately low heat, stirring, just until sugar is dissolved. Remove pan from heat and stir in kirsch, orange peel, and almonds. Stir in flour mixture and cool dough 5 minutes.
  • With floured hands, press dough evenly into pan. Put dough in oven and immediately reduce temperature to 300 degrees F. Bake dough 25 - 30 mins, or until firm but not dry and hard, and cool in pan on a rack. Invert baked dough onto a cutting board. Discard foil and invert baked dough.
  • Make glaze:.
  • Ina small saucepan heat water with grandulated sugar over moderately low heat, stirring, just until sugar is dissolved. Sift in confectioners' sugar and stir until comined well.
  • Pour hot glaze on baked dough and brush evenly over dough, brushing continuously until glaze crystallizes and whitens. Let glazed dough stand 10 minutes Trim off and discard edges of dough and cut into 2 x 1 1/2-inch rectangles. Keep cookies in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 110.7, Fat 2.7, SaturatedFat 0.2, Sodium 41, Carbohydrate 20.8, Fiber 0.9, Sugar 13, Protein 2

Tips:

  • Use fresh, high-quality ingredients. This will make a big difference in the taste of your cookies.
  • Measure your ingredients accurately. This is important for ensuring that your cookies turn out perfectly.
  • Chill the dough before baking. This will help the cookies to hold their shape and prevent them from spreading too much.
  • Bake the cookies at the correct temperature and for the correct amount of time. Over-baking will make the cookies dry and crumbly.
  • Let the cookies cool completely before storing them. This will help to prevent them from becoming sticky.

Conclusion:

Baseler Leckerli are a delicious and festive Swiss Christmas cookie. They are easy to make and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. If you are looking for a unique and flavorful cookie to add to your holiday baking list, be sure to try Baseler Leckerli.

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