Best 4 Pain DÉpices Spiced French Gingerbread Loaf With Honey Recipes

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Indulge in the delectable Pain d'épices, a traditional French gingerbread loaf boasting a captivating symphony of warm spices and the alluring sweetness of honey. This iconic treat, deeply rooted in French culinary heritage, promises an explosion of flavors in every bite. Embark on a delightful journey through the world of Pain d'épices with our curated collection of recipes, each offering a unique twist on this classic delight. From the classic Pain d'épices brimming with aromatic spices to the tantalizing Orange and Honey Pain d'épices bursting with citrus zest, our diverse selection caters to every palate. Discover the secrets behind this timeless French treasure and elevate your baking skills to new heights.

**Recipes Included:**

1. **Classic Pain d'épices:** Dive into the heart of tradition with this quintessential Pain d'épices recipe. Master the art of balancing spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, creating a harmonious blend that dances on your taste buds. The addition of honey lends a luscious sweetness, while the soft and tender crumb ensures a truly unforgettable experience.

2. **Orange and Honey Pain d'épices:** Embark on a vibrant adventure with this delightful variation featuring the sunny flavors of orange. Zesty orange zest and the natural sweetness of honey intertwine seamlessly, adding a refreshing twist to the classic Pain d'épices. Prepare to be captivated by the burst of citrusy goodness in every slice.

3. **Chocolate and Hazelnut Pain d'épices:** Indulge in a decadent symphony of flavors with this chocolate and hazelnut-infused Pain d'épices. Rich, dark chocolate and crunchy hazelnuts join forces, creating a luxurious and indulgent treat. Prepare to be tantalized by the perfect balance of bitterness and sweetness, complemented by the aromatic warmth of spices.

4. **Apple and Cinnamon Pain d'épices:** Experience the comforting flavors of fall with this apple and cinnamon-spiced Pain d'épices. Sweet and tart apples blend harmoniously with the aromatic embrace of cinnamon, resulting in a cozy and nostalgic loaf. Each bite transports you to a crisp autumn afternoon, surrounded by the warmth of loved ones.

5. **Gluten-Free Pain d'épices:** Savor the timeless flavors of Pain d'épices without compromising on dietary restrictions. This gluten-free adaptation ensures everyone can partake in the joy of this French delicacy. Using a combination of alternative flours, this recipe delivers a tender and flavorful loaf that caters to gluten-sensitive individuals without sacrificing taste or texture.

Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!

PAIN D'ÉPICES (BOUCHON BAKERY FRENCH GINGERBREAD LOAF)



Pain d'Épices (Bouchon Bakery French Gingerbread Loaf) image

French gingerbread is known as pain d'épices or spice bread. This version is moister, darker and denser than American gingerbread, which is lighter and more airy. This simple but delicious dairy free recipe hails from Bouchon Bakery.

Provided by Victoria

Categories     Bread     Breakfast     Dessert

Time 1h15m

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 ¼ cups plus 2 teaspoons (340 grams) all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons (8 grams) baking soda
1 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon (7 grams) ground ginger
1 ½ teaspoons (4 grams) ground cinnamon
⅜ teaspoon (1 gram) ground cloves
½ plus ⅛ teaspoon (2 grams) kosher salt
1 cup plus 1 ½ teaspoons (220 grams) dark brown sugar, (lightly packed)
1 cup plus 2 ¼ teaspoons (340 grams) unsulfured blackstrap molasses
1 cup (215 grams) canola or vegetable oil ((or other neutral flavored oil))
¼ cup plus 2 ½ tablespoons (100 grams) beaten eggs ((about 2 large eggs))
1 ¼ cup plus 2 ½ tablespoons (336 grams) boiling water
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon (5 grams) grated lemon zest ((from about 2 lemons))

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray two 8 ½-by-4 ½-by-2 ¾-inch loaf pans with nonstick spray. Line the bottom of each pan with parchment paper, then spray the parchment.
  • Place the flour in a medium bowl and whisk in the baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Place the brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on low speed to break up any lumps. Add the molasses and mix for about 1 minute or until smooth. With the mixer running, add the oil in a slow, steady stream and continue to mix for about 1 ½ minutes, until completely combined.
  • Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. With the mixer on low speed, add the eggs and mix for 1 minute or until the mixture is smooth. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. Add the dry mixture in 2 additions, mixing on low speed for 15 to 30 seconds after each. With the mixer running, add the water 60 grams (¼ cup) at a time, incorporating each addition before adding the next. Scrape down the bowl again. Fold in the lemon zest. The batter will be quite runny.
  • Divide the batter between the two pans. Bake for 1 hour or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. Set the pans on a cooling rack and cool for 10 minutes. Turn the cakes out onto the rack, remove the pans and cool completely.
  • The cakes can be wrapped in plastic wrap and frozen for up to 1 week. Defrost in the refrigerator and rewarm if desired. This gingerbread is best made a day ahead to allow the flavors to develop and deepen.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 233 kcal, ServingSize 1 slice, Carbohydrate 31 g, Protein 2 g, Fat 11 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Sodium 63 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 18 g, UnsaturatedFat 9 g

PAIN D'ÉPICES: FRENCH GINGERBREAD CAKE



Pain d'Épices: French Gingerbread Cake image

This delicious French gingerbread cake known as pain d'épices is perfect for making all year round. The gingerbread baked as little loaves full of holiday spices and festive flavors makes a great edible gift during holidays.

Provided by Irina

Categories     Cakes

Time 2h

Number Of Ingredients 20

1 cup + 3 tablespoons (280 ml) water
1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon (190 g) honey
1/3 cup + 2 1/2 tablespoons (110 g) granulated sugar
0.5 oz (15 g) whole star anise (see note #1)
3 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon ground allspice
2 2/3 cup + 2 1/2 teaspoons (340 g) flour
1/4 cup (37 g) corn starch
2 1/2 tablespoons (40 ml) dark rum
4 teaspoons (20 g) baking powder
2.6 oz (75 g) dried apricots
2.6 oz (75 g) prunes
2.6 oz (75 g) slivered almonds
1.5 oz (45 g) dried cranberries
3.5 oz (100 g) speculoos cookies
1.7 oz (50 g) apricot jam
prunes
dried apricots
Medjool dates
raisins

Steps:

  • pour water, honey, sugar, add cinnamon sticks, star anise, and ground allspice in a saucepan. Bring to a boil while mixing. Remove the saucepan from the heat, cover with a plastic film, and let infuse at room temperature for 24 hours.
  • The next day, preheat the oven to 320 degrees F/160 degrees C. To make the dough, mix flour, corn starch, and baking powder in a bowl. Drain the syrup with a colander and discard spices. Add rum to the syrup and mix. Stir dry ingredients into the wet mixture and combine it with a hand whisk. Add whole prunes, dried apricots, dried cranberries, and slivered almonds to the mix and combine. Pour the preparation in a buttered nonstick loaf pan or a silicone loaf pan, filling up three quarters.
  • Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes. Check the loaf readiness with a toothpick: if it comes out dry, gingerbread is ready. Remove the loaf from the bread pan and let it cool on a cooling rack.
  • place speculoos cookies in a food processor and crush to get crumbs. Heat apricot jam in a microwave and spread it all over gingerbread using a silicone brush. Generously sprinkle the loaf's sides with crumbled speculoos cookies.
  • Dip each dried fruit in a heated apricot jam, shake off the excess jam, arrange prunes, dried apricots, Medjool dates, and raisins on top, overlapping each other. Fill the gaps between fruit with crumbled cookies.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 slice, Calories 326 calories, Sugar 32.9 g, Sodium 6 mg, Fat 4.2 g, SaturatedFat 0.4 g, Carbohydrate 67.7 g, Fiber 2.8 g, Protein 5.5 g, Cholesterol 0 mg

PAIN D'ÉPICES - SPICED FRENCH GINGERBREAD LOAF WITH HONEY



Pain D'Épices - Spiced French Gingerbread Loaf With Honey image

A French classic and one that I will me making myself from now on, having just paid a small fortune for a tiny, if delicious loaf from my local boulangerie! This is a cross between sticky ginger parkin and a gingerbread cake or a tea loaf. It is not as moist as parkin or gingerbread, but it is extremely good when spread with butter or even better, when toasted.......divine! It is also surprisingly good when served with cheese. Another idea that I discovered in a local café, is to serve it warm with a dollop of crème fraiche and a little bunch of fresh berries on top, a perfect dessert for an elegant dinner party! This improves with keeping and makes a wonderful gift for a foodie friend or hostess - wrap in cellophane and attach a ribbon with serving suggestions. If you cannot source Quatre Épices, I have a recipe on zaar to make it at home! Recipe #283280

Provided by French Tart

Categories     Breads

Time 45m

Yield 1 Pain d'epices, 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

100 g honey
140 g wholemeal flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
100 ml milk
1 egg
40 g butter
65 g soft brown sugar
40 g crystallized ginger, chopped in to small pieces
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon quatre-epices (4-spice powder, usually made of pepper, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon)

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 180C/360°F.
  • Warm the milk and then add the honey, sugar and butter stirring well.
  • Put the flour, baking powder, ground ginger and quatre -épices in a mixing bowl, make a well in the middle, break the egg into it, and add the milk mixture. Mix well (or just throw the whole lot into a food processor). Add the crystallised ginger and mix well once again.
  • Pour into a well buttered 23-cm loaf tin and bake for 25 minutes. Lower the heat to 150C/300F and cook for a further 15 minutes. Remove from the tin and cool on a wire rack.
  • Store wrapped in clingfilm to keep it moist.

HONEY SPICE BREAD



Honey Spice Bread image

If you go to a French honey stand or shop, or one of the many honey fairs that occur during the summer in Provence, pain d'épices - spice bread - will always be one of the items for sale along with the honey, as honey is a key an ingredient in these breads. This recipe is based on one by French Pastry School founder Jacquy Pfeiffer. His recipe, which does not contain any butter or oil, results in a very moist bread. You will need a small loaf pan, no bigger than 4 x 8 inches, or you can make mini-muffins.

Provided by Martha Rose Shulman

Time 1h

Yield About 40 mini-cakes or 1 small loaf, serving 12.

Number Of Ingredients 14

175 grams (1/2 cup) honey
20 grams (2 tablespoons) brown sugar
62 grams (1/2 cup) whole wheat flour
62 grams (1/2 cup) rye flour
5 grams (1 teaspoon) baking powder
1 teaspoon ground anise
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 grams (1/4 teaspoon) salt
55 grams (1 extra large) egg
50 grams (3 tablespoons) milk

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter a small (8 x 4-inch or smaller) bread pan and dust lightly with flour. Line with parchment if desired. Alternatively, use buttered and floured mini-muffin molds or silicone mini muffin molds.
  • Place the honey and sugar in a small saucepan, insert a thermometer and heat to 158 degrees while stirring with a rubber spatula.
  • Sift together the whole wheat flour, rye flour, baking powder, spices and salt and transfer them to the bowl of your mixer.
  • In a small bowl whisk together the milk and whole eggs. Turn the mixer on low and slowly add the milk and egg mixture. Stop the mixer and, using a rubber spatula or a plastic bowl scraper, scrape up any flour sticking to the bottom of the bowl. Add the warm honey mixture and mix on medium speed until incorporated. Scrape into the bread pan or spoon about 1 to 2 teaspoons into each mini-mold, filling them 3/4 full.
  • Bake mini-cakes for 15 to 20 minutes, loaves for 40 to 45 minutes, until deep brown and a tester comes out clean. Remove from the heat, unmold and cool on a rack. If making a loaf, for best results, once cool wrap tightly in plastic and allow the cake to rest for a day.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 29, UnsaturatedFat 0 grams, Carbohydrate 7 grams, Fat 0 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 1 gram, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 25 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams, TransFat 0 grams

Tips:

  • Use fresh, high-quality ingredients for the best flavor.
  • Be careful not to overmix the batter, as this can make the bread tough.
  • If you don't have buttermilk, you can make your own by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to 1 cup of regular milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes.
  • Be sure to grease and flour the loaf pan before pouring in the batter.
  • Bake the bread at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Let the bread cool completely before slicing and serving.

Conclusion:

Pain d'épices is a delicious and flavorful French gingerbread loaf cake that is perfect for the holidays or any special occasion. With its warm spices and honeyed sweetness, this bread is sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it. So next time you're looking for a special treat, be sure to give this recipe a try.

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