Ingredients
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2 tbsp Butter
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1/2 cup honey
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1 egg
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2 cups all purpose flour
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1/4 tsp baking soda
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1/4 tsp ground cardamom
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1/4 tsp ground ginger
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1/4 tsp Ground mace
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1/4 tsp cinnamon
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2 tbsp crushed blanched almonds
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1/2 cup jam
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1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
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2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
Directions
Pryaniki is one of the staple sweets of Russian cuisine and has been around for a very long time. Its consistency is very similar to that of gingerbread. The most classic recipe resembles a chewy, spicy gingerbread. It is honey that is essential for a traditional pryanik recipe.
Tula pryanik is probably the most culturally significant type of pryaniki, so much so that nowadays it is considered an art to create proper pryanik decor in Tula city. Pryaniki are often eaten with a glass of tea. And did you know that Russia often ranks in the top 5 tea consumers of the world?!
Preparation:
- Cream the butter and honey, then beat in the egg.
- Stir in the baking soda, spices, and almonds, mixing well.
- Add enough flour to make a soft dough. Wrap the dough in waxed paper and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350° F. On a floured board, roll the dough out 1/8-inch thick. Cut out the rounds with a 2½-inch cookie cutter.
- Spread a generous teaspoon of jam on half of the rounds. Top each jam-covered round with a plain round, sealing the edges with your fingers, then crimping them decoratively. Place on a greased baking sheet.
- Bake for 10 minutes at 350° F, then reduce the heat to 325° F and continue baking for 8 to 10 minutes more. Cool on a rack.
- To prepare the glaze, mix together the confectioners’ sugar and lemon juice. Pour over the cooled cookies.
