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Tirggel
Honey biscuits
Zürcher Tirggel: thin Zurich honey biscuits pressed with pictures
Tirggel have been baked in Zurich since the Middle Ages and are still sold at the Christmas markets on the Bahnhofstrasse and the old-town bakeries: wafer-thin honey biscuits pressed into carved moulds of guild scenes, animals and town views, then baked with heat from the top only so the raised picture turns golden while the back stays pale. They are hard and meant to be broken into pieces and let melt on the tongue. Wooden or silicone springerle moulds work at home. Chef's tip: bake them under the top heat only, or on the highest shelf with a tray below; full heat browns the whole biscuit and the picture disappears.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 24
Ingredients
- 9 oz runny honey
- 2 ⅞ oz sugar
- 2 tbsp rose water
- 2 tbsp water
- 12 ½ oz plain flour
- 2 tbsp rice flour for the moulds
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Warm 9 oz runny honey, 2 ⅞ oz sugar, 2 tbsp rose water and 2 tbsp water in a pan over a low heat, stirring, until the sugar has dissolved. Do not boil. Cool until lukewarm.
5 minStep 2: Stir in 12 ½ oz plain flour to make a stiff, smooth dough. Knead briefly, wrap and leave at room temperature for 1 hour.
5 minStep 3: Roll the dough very thinly, 2 mm, on a surface dusted with 2 tbsp rice flour for the moulds. Dust the moulds with rice flour, press them firmly into the dough and cut around each picture. Place on lined trays.
20 minStep 4: Leave the biscuits to dry overnight, uncovered.
720 minStep 5: Heat the oven grill or top heat to 475°F. Bake one tray at a time on the top shelf for 2–4 minutes, watching closely, until the raised parts are golden and the back is still pale. Cool flat; they harden as they cool.
15 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 75 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 18 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does tirggel take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 45 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 24 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 sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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Perfect for:Christmas