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Appenzeller Biber
Almond-filled gingerbread
Appenzeller Biber: Appenzell honey gingerbread filled with almond paste
SwissIn the green hills of Appenzell, Biber are the sweet that marks Christmas, New Year and christenings, and bakers in Appenzell town stamp them with wooden moulds of cows, bears and the traditional alpine ascent. The dough is a dark, spicy honey gingerbread wrapped around a layer of almond paste, baked until it glows chestnut brown. They keep well and are sliced or eaten whole with coffee. Chef's tip: leave the dough to rest for at least a day if you can; honey doughs get smoother and spicier with time and crack less when stamped.
- Total time
- 80 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
For the dough
- 9 oz runny honey
- 1 ¾ oz brown sugar
- 3 tbsp milk
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 14 oz plain flour
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
For the filling
- 10 ½ oz almond paste (marzipan)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
To glaze
- 2 tbsp milk
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Warm 9 oz runny honey, 1 ¾ oz brown sugar and 3 tbsp milk until the sugar dissolves; do not boil. Cool until lukewarm.
5 minStep 2: Mix 14 oz plain flour, 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda, 2 tsp ground cinnamon and 2 tsp ground anise, coriander, clove and nutmeg mix, pour in the honey and knead to a smooth, firm dough. Wrap and rest at room temperature for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight.
5 minStep 3: Knead 10 ½ oz almond paste (marzipan) with 1 tbsp lemon juice until soft, then roll it into a 20 × 30 cm sheet between baking paper.
5 minStep 4: Roll the dough into two 22 × 32 cm sheets, 5 mm thick. Lay one on a lined tray, cover with the almond paste and top with the second sheet, pressing the edges together. Stamp with floured moulds if you have them, or mark a pattern with a fork, then cut into 12 rectangles and separate slightly.
20 minStep 5: Heat the oven to 400°F (fan 350°F). Brush with 2 tbsp milk and bake for 15–18 minutes until evenly chestnut brown and firm at the edges. Overbaking is the common mistake: they go hard. Brush with milk again while hot and cool on a rack.
20 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 260 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 48 g
- Fat
- 6 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does appenzeller Biber take?
- About 80 minutes in total: 60 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of runny honey?
- Maple syrup or golden syrup, same amount.
- What can I use instead of brown sugar?
- White sugar + 1 tbsp molasses or treacle per 200g.
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