Alsatian Gingerbread

Alsace is famous for its Christmas market fad for its gingerbread. Moist with a nice hint of Christmas spices.

Ingredients: 

  • ¾ Cup of water (150 g)
  • 1/3 Cup of sugar (60 g)
  • ½ Cup of honey (150 g)
  • Spices:
    • ½ tsp of ground cinnamon
    • ¼ tsp of ground ginger
    • ¼ tsp of ground nutmeg
    • ¼ tsp of ground cloves
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • Zest of 2 limes
  • Zest of 1 orange 
  • 2 anise stars (optional)
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 1 ¼ Cup of flour (150 g)
  • 1 ¼ tsp of baking powder (5 g)
  • 1 pinch of baking soda
  • 7 Tbsp of butter (95 g)

 Directions for the syrup

  1. Bring the water with the sugar, honey and salt to a boil.
  2. Add the spices, the various zests, star anise and butter.
  3. Cover and let steep 20 minutes out of the heat.

Directions for the gingerbread

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Sift the flour, baking powder and baking soda. Set aside.
  3. Pour the syrup into a strainer to filter it.
  4. Then, pour the syrup gradually on the flour by mixing with a whisk.
  5. Mix until smooth.
  6. Pour the dough into a cake pan lined with a sheet of parchment paper.
  7. Bake about 40 minutes. At the end of the oven, unmold and let cool on a rack. 

Et voilà!