In this article, we'll delve into the world of German heart-shaped cookies, known as "Herzen". Whether you're a seasoned baker or a novice in the kitchen, we'll guide you to select the most delicious and visually stunning recipe that reflects your skill level and the occasion. With a rich history dating back to the 18th century, Herzen cookies have become a beloved German tradition, enjoyed during festivals, celebrations, and as a thoughtful gift. Discover the secrets to creating these delectable cookies, from selecting the finest ingredients to mastering the art of baking.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
23 GERMAN COOKIES WE CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT
These German cookies bring Oktoberfest right into your home! These authentic recipes are simple, delicious, and will give you an authentic taste of Germany.
Provided by insanelygood
Categories Cookies Recipe Roundup
Number Of Ingredients 23
Steps:
- Select your favorite recipe.
- Organize all the required ingredients.
- Prep a German treat in 30 minutes or less!
Nutrition Facts :
GERMAN HEART COOKIES
This heart cookie recipe is from Germany where they are called Herrnhuter Herzen. They are the perfect cookies for Valentine's Day or other romantic occasions.
Provided by Lena
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European German
Time 5h15m
Yield 50
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Combine flour, 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter, white sugar, and eggs in a large bowl and knead into a smooth dough. Shape into a ball. Flatten, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease 2 baking sheets or line with parchment paper.
- Dust a work surface with flour and roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out hearts with a heart-shaped cookie cutter and arrange cut-out cookies on prepared baking sheets.
- Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from baking sheets carefully and transfer to wire racks. Cool completely, about 20 minutes.
- Mix 1 cup of confectioners' sugar with as much lemon juice needed to form a thick icing. Cover half of the hearts with the white icing. Mix the remaining 1 cup confectioners' sugar with raspberry syrup and cover the other half with pink icing. Let cookies stand until icing dries completely, about 2 hours, or up to overnight.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 104.8 calories, Carbohydrate 15.5 g, Cholesterol 17.5 mg, Fat 4.4 g, Fiber 0.2 g, Protein 1.1 g, SaturatedFat 2.7 g, Sodium 3.2 mg, Sugar 9.2 g
GERMAN GINGERBREAD HEARTS (MARKT LEBKUCHENHERZEN)
Steps:
- Gather the ingredients.
- Bring the butter, honey, sugar, cocoa powder and gingerbread spice mix to a boil in a medium-sized saucepan.
- Boil for several minutes until the sugar dissolves, then remove from heat and cool slightly.
- Sift the flour with the baking powder and salt into a bowl.
- Make a depression in the bowl and add the egg, then pour the honey mixture over the flour and mix on low speed until a ball of dough can be formed.
- The ball of dough might still be shaggy but will form a smooth dough as it cools down, so do not add extra flour.
- Wrap the ball of dough in plastic wrap and put in a safe place at room temperature for 4 to 48 hours.(This dough should rest overnight before baking for best results.)
- Heat the oven to 350 F.
- Roll out half the dough to 1/2-inch thickness on a lightly floured board.
- Use a large, heart-shaped cookie cutter or your own template to cut out large, heart shaped cookies.
- If you want to hang these hearts from a ribbon, create 1 or 2 holes about 3/4-inch below the rim of the cookie before you bake it.
- Repeat with the rest of cookie dough. This dough does not reroll well, so take care to roll it into the right size the first time.
- Place the cookies on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cookies are set in the middle and lightly browned on the bottom. Bake the trimmed scraps to use for practice decorating.
- Let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheet. They will harden as they cool. Although they are edible, this dough is most often used to make decorative cookies that are hung on the wall or around the recipient's neck and are seldom eaten.
- Use tinted royal icing to decorate the cookies. You only need about half of the recipe, but you will want to practice decorating with your baked scraps, and you might want to use several colors, so make the whole batch.
- Tint some of the icing in a separate bowl using normal food coloring. if the icing is not completely tinted you can create swirls of lighter and darker colors as you pipe it.
- Place the icing in a decorator bag with a leaf tip attached to make the border. Use a writing tip for the words. Find out more about filling and using pastry bags here .
- Decorate as you like. It is traditional to write cute sayings in the center and give the cookies to people you like.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1461 kcal, Carbohydrate 275 g, Cholesterol 133 mg, Fiber 7 g, Protein 25 g, SaturatedFat 18 g, Sodium 666 mg, Sugar 111 g, Fat 31 g, ServingSize 2-3 Cookies (Serves 3), UnsaturatedFat 0 g
Tips:
- Soften butter and cream cheese to room temperature: This will make them easier to mix and cream together.
- Use high-quality chocolate: The better the chocolate, the better the cookies will taste. Look for chocolate with a cocoa content of at least 70%.
- Don't overmix the dough: Overmixing will make the cookies tough. Mix just until the ingredients are well combined.
- Chill the dough before baking: This will help the cookies hold their shape and prevent them from spreading too much.
- Bake the cookies until they are just set: Overbaking will make them dry and crumbly. The cookies should be slightly soft in the center when you take them out of the oven.
- Let the cookies cool completely before frosting: This will help the frosting set properly.
Conclusion:
German heart cookies are a delicious and festive treat that are perfect for any occasion. With their rich chocolate flavor and creamy frosting, they are sure to be a hit with everyone who tries them. So next time you're looking for a special cookie recipe, give these German heart cookies a try. You won't be disappointed!
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