Basler Läckerli (Basel Spiced Honey Cookies)
In short: Chewy Basel honey cookies packed with almonds, candied citrus peel and warm spices, glazed with a thin kirsch icing and cut into bars. It takes about 43 min in total and makes 24 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 18 min
- Resting
- 12 h
- Total
- 43 min
- Servings
- 24
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 140 kcal
Basler Läckerli are firm, chewy honey and spice bars from Basel, packed with ground almonds and candied citrus peel and topped with a thin white glaze. The dough rests overnight and bakes in one thick sheet, which is cut into rectangles while still warm. They are a Christmas favorite, but bakeries sell them all year, and the cookies grow chewier and more aromatic after a few days in a tin.
Instructions
- Warm the honey and sugar in a saucepan over low heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is runny. Do not let it boil. Cool until lukewarm and stir in the kirsch.
- Mix the flour, almonds, candied peel, spices, lemon zest and baking powder in a large bowl. Pour in the honey mixture and stir to a stiff, sticky dough. Wrap and refrigerate overnight.
- Heat the oven to 200°C (400°F) and line a 30 x 40 cm (12 x 16 in) baking sheet with baking paper.
- Press the dough out directly on the paper with damp hands into a rectangle about 20 x 30 cm (8 x 12 in) and 1 cm (1/2 in) thick.
- Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until the edges are golden and the top feels firm. Meanwhile, stir the powdered sugar, kirsch and water into a thin glaze.
- Brush the glaze over the hot slab straight from the oven. Let it cool for 10 minutes, then cut into 24 rectangles while still warm. Cool completely and store in a tin.
Tips
- The dough is very sticky. Wet hands, or rolling it between two sheets of baking paper, make it easy to handle. The overnight rest lets the flour absorb the honey.
- Läckerli improve with age. Keep them airtight for a few days and they turn softer, chewier and more aromatic.
Questions and answers
Can I make Läckerli without kirsch?
Yes. Use water or orange juice in the dough and the glaze. The flavor will be slightly less fruity but still spicy and sweet.
How long do Basler Läckerli keep?
In an airtight tin they keep for 3 to 4 weeks and get chewier over time. Add a slice of apple to the tin if they become too hard.
Why are my Läckerli too hard?
They were probably overbaked, or the dough had too much flour. Take them out when the edges are golden, because they firm up as they cool and soften again in a tin.
How long does it take to make Basler Läckerli (Basel Spiced Honey Cookies)?
About 43 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 18 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Basler Läckerli (Basel Spiced Honey Cookies)?
About 140 kcal per serving, with 2 g of protein, 28 g of carbohydrates and 2 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 140 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 2 g |
| Carbohydrates | 28 g |
| Fat | 2 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 21 g |
| Sodium | 10 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
