Craftours Lifestyles Magazine December 2018 | Page 38

Basler Leckerli
swiss gingerbread
Basler Leckerli are a type of Lebkuchen
that originated in the Swiss city of Basel,
on the river Rhine. Despite conflicting
stories about their origin, they have
been around for at least since the 16th
Century, which makes them a Swiss,
rather than German bread. Although
Basel, originally a Roman settlement,
had been German for centuries, it
joined the Swiss Confederation in 1501.
This explains perhaps why so many of
traditional dishes are part of the shared
experience between these countries.
Ingredients
3/4 cup honey
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2/3 cup blanched almonds, finely chopped
1/2 cup finely chopped candied orange peel
1/4 cup finely chopped candied citron peel
1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest
1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar