Pain DÉpices Bouchon Bakery French Gingerbread Loaf Recipes

FRENCH PAIN D'EPICES

Steps:

• BAKING PANS: One large loaf pan (9 x 5), greased or Teflon, or two small (7 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch) pans. Metal or glass. If the latter, reduce oven heat 25 degrees.
• In a small mixing bowl pour water and add sugar, honey, baking soda and a pinch of salt. Stir until it is dissolved. Mix in the rum, anise seed and cinnamon.
• Measure flour into a large mixing bowl and pour in the liquid-stirring slowly but thoroughly to make a smooth batter. Drop in the almonds, citron and orange peel. Stir several times to mix throughout the batter. Preheat oven to 450°F Butter the tins and line with wax paper or parchment paper. Butter again.
• Pour the batter into the tin or tins. With a rubber scraper or spoon form a shallow depression down the center of the loaf, with the batter slightly higher along the sides. This will compensate for the rise of the center during baking.
• Place the bread in a very hot oven for 10 minutes; REDUCE the heat to moderate (350 F)for an additional 50 or 60 minutes. The loaf will test done when a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and dry.
• Remove bread from the oven. Turn the tins on their sides and carefully pull out the loaves by tugging gently on the wax paper. Let the loaves cool (preferably overnight) before slicing thinly. Makes 1 large or 2 small.
• The Complete Book Of Breads.Bernard. Clayton, Jr.

PAIN D'ÉPICES - SPICED FRENCH GINGERBREAD LOAF WITH HONEY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180C/360°F.
• Warm the milk and then add the honey, sugar and butter stirring well.
• Put the flour, baking powder, ground ginger and quatre -épices in a mixing bowl, make a well in the middle, break the egg into it, and add the milk mixture. Mix well (or just throw the whole lot into a food processor). Add the crystallised ginger and mix well once again.
• Pour into a well buttered 23-cm loaf tin and bake for 25 minutes. Lower the heat to 150C/300F and cook for a further 15 minutes. Remove from the tin and cool on a wire rack.
• Store wrapped in clingfilm to keep it moist.