Introduction: Polish Honey and Spice Gingerbread (piernik)

About: I have always loved to cook and share my food with others. Whether exploring new recipes and foods from all over the world or cooking an old comfort food favourite. It is always important to cook with love i…

Here is my version of the traditional Polish piernik - a gingerbread flavoured with honey and spices- perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  This gingerbread lasts for at least a week and also seems to improve in flavour over time when the spices have had chance to mix and mingle.  This would also makes a great food gift during this festive season.  I hope you enjoy! 


ingredients:
1 cup honey
1 cup black coffee
8 oz butter
1 cup brown sugar
3 eggs
3 tsp baking powder
4 cups plain (all purpose) flour
1 lemon zested
1 tsp all spice (pimento)
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon

preparation time: 20 minutes
cooking time:  30-40 minutes

Step 1:

  • preheat oven to 190C and grease/line a baking pan.  I used a 9x12 pan, but you can also make this in a loaf tin. 

Step 2:

  • add honey, coffee, sugar, butter and spices to a saucepan and mix over a gentle heat until the sugar has dissolved and the butter melted.  Leave to cool for a while you prepare the other ingredients.

Step 3:

  • break eggs into a bowl and add the lemon zest and whisk for a few minutes until bubbly

Step 4:

  • slowly pour in the melted butter, sugar and honey mixture onto the whisked eggs and keep beating for a few minutes until fully incorporated. 
  • Be careful not to add the melted mixture too quickly as this may curdle the eggs

Step 5:

  • add sifted flour and baking powder to the wet mixture and stir well to incorporate
  • pour into greased baking tin

Step 6:

  • bake for 30-40 minutes - it is ready when a skewer/tooth pick comes out clean. 
  • leave to cool completely before cutting into squares
  • eat and share with your nearest and dearest :)
You can check out my other recipes on http://chipbuttiesandnoodlesoup.blogspot.co.uk/

I hope you enjoy and try this out - let me know how you get on.
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