Best 3 Leckerli Recipes

BASELER LECKERLI (SWISS SPICE COOKIES)

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.

LECKERLI

Steps:

• Combine honey and sugar in a small saucepan. Heat slowly, stirring constantly, until honey thins and sugar dissolves; cool slightly.
• Sift flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves into a large bowl.
• Add almonds, candied orange and lemon peels; mix to coat.
• Add cooled honey mixture, egg and kirsch to flour mixture; stir with wooden spoon until blended.
• Knead dough together with palm of hand until mixture cleans side of bowl; shape into ball; flatten slightly.
• Roll dough between two sheets of wax paper to a 13x9 inch rectangle, slightly less than 1/4 inch thich, keeping edges as even as possible.
• Remove top piece of wax paper; flip dough onto lightly greased cookie sheet; remove second piece of wax paper.
• Brush top lightly with milk.
• Bake in a moderate over (375 degrees F) for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
• Remove cookie sheet to wire rack.
• Trim edges of cookie dough; cut into 2-inch squares.
• Make GLAZE: Combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 3 Tbsp water in saucepan. Cook about 5 minutes or until it registers 235 degrees F on candy thermometer.
• Brush Glaze quickly over warm Leckerli. (Do not make glaze until Leckerli are out of the oven or it will harden.)
• Decorate with candied red cherry halves and angelica leaves. (Glaze will harden and turn white.).

BASEL LECKERLI SWISS HONEY SPICE COOKIE

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.