During the joyous season of Christmas, the streets of Belgium are filled with enticing aromas of freshly baked cookies. Belgian Christmas cookies, known for their delicate flavors and unique shapes, are a cherished tradition passed down through generations. Whether you prefer crispy speculoos, soft and chewy gingerbread men, or the intricate designs of snowflake cookies, this article will guide you in selecting and creating the perfect recipe to capture the magic of a Belgian Christmas.
Let's cook with our recipes!
BELGIAN IRON COOKIES
These have been in the family forever. They last forever - they mellow like fine wine. You must have a special iron to bake them over a gas burner. It's like two hinged plates and it usually has a pretty pattern that is pressed into the cookies as they bake one by one.
Provided by Linda Housner
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Belgian
Yield 60
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Cream butter and brown sugar. Add eggs, vanilla, salt, and liquor (if desired). Blend in.
- Now it gets to be fun. You have to work in all five pounds of flour little by little by hand. It will work in but it takes a while. You'll wind up with a BIG mixing bowl of dough.
- Refrigerate dough overnight.
- Have plenty of people to help with the cooking. Lightly grease and heat the empty cookie iron over a gas burner. Start with a tablespoon and a half of dough rolled into a little "cigar" shape and vary amount to fit the size of your cookie iron. It takes from one to one and a half minutes to cook each cookie - it's a trial and error process at first till you get a handle on the temperature of the gas burner and the heat retaining capabilities of your iron. A properly cooked cookie will be golden and after cooled, crisp.
- This a family holiday tradition for us and we spend a whole day cooking cookies with lots of testing to make sure they're as good as last year's. The cast iron cookie irons work best, but I have seen people make them with the aluminum pizelle "irons". Ask for a krumkokie (croom cockie) iron at a gourmet cooking shop. We put them in tins and store till next Christmas, eating last year's cookies.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 249 calories, Carbohydrate 39.6 g, Cholesterol 53.5 mg, Fat 7.5 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 5.2 g, SaturatedFat 4.3 g, Sodium 100.2 mg, Sugar 10.7 g
EMPIRE COOKIES
Jam filled shortbread cookies have been a longtime favorite on Scottish and English tea tables. Now popular in Canada! Store in a covered tin.
Provided by Marguerite
Categories Desserts Cookies Filled Cookie Recipes
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Cream butter. Add sugar, creaming well. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder; gradually add to creamed mixture.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into 2 inch rounds, and place on ungreased baking sheets.
- Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 10 minutes, or until very lightly browned at edges. Cool thoroughly.
- Spread half of the cookies with jam, and top with remaining cookies.
- Combine confectioners' sugar, almond extract, and enough hot water to make a thin icing. Frost tops of cookies. Top each with a small piece of candied cherry.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 266.3 calories, Carbohydrate 45.7 g, Cholesterol 35.8 mg, Fat 8.3 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 2.8 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, Sodium 103.7 mg, Sugar 28.5 g
BELGIAN CHRISTMAS COOKIES
Make and share this Belgian Christmas Cookies recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Olha7397
Categories Bar Cookie
Time 37m
Yield 5 doz
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Cream butter with extract; add brown sugar gradually, creaming until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition.
- Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together; add in thirds to creamed mixture, mixing until blended after each addition. Turn into a greased 15 x 10 x 1 inch jelly roll pan and spread evenly to edges.
- Sprinkle a mixture of almonds and cinnamon over batter, then sprinkle with a mixture of red and green sugar.
- Bake at 375°F 10 to 12 minutes.
- Cut into bars while still warm. About 5 dozen cookies.
- Canadian Family Cookbook.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 663.2, Fat 34.2, SaturatedFat 16.8, Cholesterol 149.7, Sodium 562.2, Carbohydrate 81.5, Fiber 2.9, Sugar 46.7, Protein 10.1
BELGIAN WAFFLE COOKIES
Crisp, yummy cookies which a lot of people seem to exchange around the holidays. I think the Italian verson contains anise.
Provided by TiaGem
Categories Dessert
Time 30m
Yield 4 waffles
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat waffle maker.
- Place butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl.
- Cream together on med-low.
- Add vanilla and salt, increase speed to medium.
- Add eggs and mix until smooth.
- Decrease speed to low, add flour and mix well.
- Divide batter into 4 3/4 cup portions.
- Using one portion, drop batter on each corner of the grids.
- Close waffle maker and bake until steam no longer escapes (about 3-5 min).
- Carefully remove waffle from maker and allow to cool.
- Serve plain or with your favorite fruit filling and whipped cream.
Tips:
- Mise en place: Before you start baking, make sure you have all the ingredients and equipment you need. This will help you stay organized and avoid any mishaps.
- Measure your ingredients accurately: Using the correct measurements is essential for successful baking. Invest in a good set of measuring cups and spoons.
- Follow the recipe carefully: Don't skip any steps or substitute ingredients unless you're sure you know what you're doing. Baking is a science, and changing the recipe can have unintended consequences.
- Don't overmix the dough: Overmixing can make your cookies tough. Mix the dough just until it comes together.
- Chill the dough before baking: Chilling the dough helps it to firm up and makes it easier to handle. This will also help your cookies to keep their shape in the oven.
- Bake the cookies at the right temperature: The temperature of your oven can affect the texture and flavor of your cookies. Make sure to preheat your oven to the correct temperature before baking.
- Don't overbake the cookies: Overbaking can make your cookies dry and crumbly. Bake the cookies just until they are set and the edges are just beginning to brown.
- Let the cookies cool completely before storing: This will help them to keep their shape and flavor.
Conclusion:
Belgian Christmas cookies are a delicious and festive treat that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. These cookies come in many different shapes and sizes, and they can be decorated with a variety of glazes, sprinkles, and other toppings. If you're looking for a fun and easy way to get into the holiday spirit, give one of these recipes a try. You can also use stencils to decorate the cookies with festive patterns, like snowflakes or Christmas trees. With a little creativity, you can make Belgian Christmas cookies that are sure to impress your family and friends.
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