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Willisauer Ringli
Sugar ring biscuits
Willisauer Ringli: hard sugar ring biscuits from Willisau in Lucerne
The little town of Willisau in the canton of Lucerne has been making these rock-hard sugar rings since the 1800s, and Swiss children have been nibbling them on hikes and car journeys ever since, sucking them slowly like sweets. They are made from little more than sugar, flour, egg and lemon, and dried before baking so they set with a smooth, pale, glassy crust. The bakery recipe is a well-kept secret; this home version gets the same snap. Chef's tip: don't skip the overnight drying, which forms the crust that gives Ringli their famous crunch.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 24
Ingredients
- 9 oz caster sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 lemon zestfinely grated
- 9 oz plain flour
- ¼ tsp baking powder
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Whisk 9 oz caster sugar, 2 eggs and 1 lemon zest with an electric mixer for 6–8 minutes until thick, pale and the sugar has mostly dissolved.
8 minStep 2: Sift in 9 oz plain flour and ¼ tsp baking powder and mix to a firm, smooth dough. Add a spoon of flour if it is sticky.
3 minStep 3: Roll pieces of dough into pencil-thick ropes, 12 cm long, and press the ends together to make rings. Place on a lined tray.
20 minStep 4: Leave uncovered at room temperature overnight, at least 12 hours, until the tops are dry to the touch.
720 minStep 5: Heat the oven to 325°F (fan 275°F) and bake for 18–20 minutes until set and only faintly coloured underneath. Cool completely; store airtight for weeks.
20 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 85 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 20 g
- Fat
- 1 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does willisauer Ringli take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 40 minutes to prepare and 20 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 caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
- What can I use instead of eggs?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
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