Shortbread Springerle Cookies Recipes

SHORTBREAD SPRINGERLE COOKIES

Steps:

• Dissolve hartshorn in the milk for 1 hour.
• Beat eggs until thick and lemon coloured, about 10 minutes with a heavy duty mixed, longer with a hand mixer.
• Slowly beat in the powdered sugar, then the softened butter, beating until the mixture is creamy.
• Beat in the hartshorn and milk, salt, flavouring oil and grated citrus peel, if using.
• Gradually beat in as much of the flour as possible with the mixer, then stir in the rest of the flour to make a stiff dough.
• Turn the dough onto floured surface and knead in more flour until stiff enough to make a good print.
• The amount of flour needed will depend on the size of the eggs and amount of humidity.
• Dust a surface with flour and roll out the dough to about 1/3 " thickness.
• With a clean dry pastry brush, brush springerle molds with cake flour and press into the dough.
• Cut out cookies with a knife, pizza cutter, pastry wheel or cutter.
• Place cookies on a kitchen towel, uncovered, to dry for 2 to 24 hours.
• Bake on a greased or baker's parchment lined cookie sheet at 225 F to 325 F until barely golden on the bottom. This will take 10 to 25 minutes, depending on the size of the cookies.
• Cool completely on rack and store in tins.
• They will keep for monthe and improve with age. They can be baked in October or November for Christmas.
• The number of cookies this recipe yields depends on the size and thickness of the cookies.
• Prep time does not include the 2 to 24 hour drying time.
• VARIATIONS:.
• Chocolate Springerle - Add 1 cup cocoa and 2 tsp vanilla or chocolate extract in place of other flavorings. For a lighter colored cookie, use chocolate flavor confectioner's sugar which is available in 1 lb boxes, plus 2 tsp of vanilla or chocolate extract.
• Cocoa-Mocha - Add 2 tbsp powdered (pulverize granules if necessary) instant coffee to milk plus either of the chocolate formulas given above.
• Citrus - Use 3 to 4 tsp oil of lemon or oil of orange, or 2 tsp oil and grated rind of 3 oranges or lemons.
• Oil of cinnamon, almond or peppermint - Use 1/2 tsp
• Vanilla - Use 4 or 5 tsp extract.

SPECULAAS COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, mace, white pepper, and cloves in a large bowl.
• Cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in half the flour mixture. Beat in water, then remaining flour mixture. Shape into 3 disks. Pat each to a 1-inch thickness, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Dust surface and springerle mold lightly with confectioners' sugar. Roll out dough to a 1/4- to 3/8-inch thickness (deeper molds will need thicker dough). Cut a piece of dough about the size of the mold. Press mold firmly into dough, flip over, and gently roll over dough with a rolling pin. Flip over, and press onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Using a knife, trim excess dough. Gently coax dough out of mold with fingertips and onto a baking sheet. Repeat, spacing cookies 1 inch apart, and placing same-size cookies on same sheet. Freeze until firm, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place 1 sheet of cookies in oven, and immediately reduce temperature to 250. Bake, 1 sheet at a time, until cookies are set and just beginning to turn light gold around edges, 55 to 65 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.

TRADITIONAL SPRINGERLE

Steps:

• Lightly grease 4 cookie sheets. Sprinkle with anise seeds. Set aside until needed.
• Mix the flour and baking powder together in a bowl until well blended. Place the eggs, sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl; beat until light and frothy, 5 to 8 minutes. Slowly stir in the flour mixture until a thick dough forms.
• Working with handfuls of dough, roll out the dough onto a lightly floured surface until 1/4 inch thick. Lightly sift confectioners' sugar over the dough. Place springerle molds onto the dough; press down hard and evenly until the mold's design registers in the dough. Remove the mold. Use a small knife to cut around each cookie, and place on prepared cookie sheets. Repeat, until all dough has been used. Cover the cookies with a lightweight cotton cloth, and allow to dry 8 hours, or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
• Bake cookies in preheated oven until tops are pale brown and set, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool on a rack. Store in an airtight container.

GERMAN SPRINGERLE COOKIES

Steps:

• Beat eggs until very light.
• Gradually add sugar and beat 15 minutes at high speed until mixture resembles a soft meringue, this is very important; don't skimp on time.
• Add anise oil and blend gently.
• SIft together flour and baking soda and add to egg mixture at low speed Cover bowl tightly for 15 minutes.
• Divide dough into thirds and roll each piece into an 8 inch square a little more than 1/4 inch thick.
• While working with one keep others covered.
• Let stand 1 minute.
• Dust springerle mold with flour and press into dough.
• Cut cookies apart.
• Place on lightly floured surface and let stand overnight.
• Grease baking sheet and sprinkle with anise seeds.
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• Brush excess flour from cookies, moisten lightly with water and place on baking sheets.
• Bake about 20 minutes and store tightly covered.