01 April 2012

Easter Lebkuchen


Ingredients:
115g butter, softened
115g brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup treacle
400g self-raising flour
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon chilli powder
100g dark chocolate, melted
50g milk chocolate, melted

To make the Lebkuchen:
1. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Beat in egg and treacle.
3. Sift flour, ginger, cloves and chilli powder into mixture.
4. Mix together with a wooden spoon until mixture forms a dough.
5. Knead dough lightly until smooth.
6. Chill dough for 30 minutes.
7. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.
8. Roll out Lebkuchen dough on lightly floured surface until 3mm thick.
9. Cut out shapes using Easter egg shaped cookie cutters.
10. Space Lebkuchen 3cm apart on trays lined with baking paper.
11. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until Lebkuchen are pale golden.
12. Cool on wire racks.

To decorate:
1. Dip cooled Lebkuchen face down into melted dark chocolate and place on wire racks to set.
2. Using a piping bag, drizzle melted milk chocolate over the dark chocolate.