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How to Make Appenzeller Biberli

Switzerland is famous all over the world for its chocolate. Yet, there are plenty of other sweet dishes typical of Switzerland that are worth trying. Amongst them carrot cake, Magenbrot, Vermicelles, and a great variety of cookies. I'm game for any dessert or cookie that contains almonds or almond paste and therefore one of my personal favorites of Swiss sweet dishes is the Appenzeller Biberli.

What are Appenzeller Biberli?

This pastry is originally from the canton of Appenzell - thus the name - but is produced and eaten all over Switzerland nowadays. There also exists a larger version of the Biberli which is called a "Biber" and comes without the almond paste filling of the Biberli.


If you're living in Switzerland or passing through on a visit you can find Biberli in almost every supermarket. However, if you're abroad chances are high there are no Biberli to be found anywhere nearby - not even in the imported foods section of your local deli. What can you do? Of course, you can always try yourself at baking some of these delicacies yourself! I found a great recipe online and would like to share it with you.

Recipe for Swiss Biberli

(Makes about 50 Biberli)


Ingredients:

125 g honey
75 g raw sugar
2 tbsp vegetable oil
3 tbsp milk or water
200 g flour
2 tsp gingerbread spice (you can alternatively mix cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves)
250 g baking marzipan for the filling
some coffee cream and powdered sugar

Instructions:


1. Mix honey, sugar, milk and oil in a pan. Constantly stir while heating. Leave mixture to cool.
2. Mix flour and spices and add to honey mixture. Mix or knead into a firm dough.
3. Cover dough and leave it to rest 1 hour.
4. Put a baking sheet on a baking pan.
5. Divide the Marzipan into 3 even parts. Form long rolls of about 24 cm from each part.
6. Roll out dough into a rectangle approx. 21x24 cm. Use a bit of flour if necessary.
7. Cut dough into 3 rectangles approx. 7x24 cm.
8. Place one roll of marzipan into the middle of each piece of dough.
9. Enwrap marzipan with the dough.
10. Cut rolls into pieces approx. 2 cm wide. Some people prefer to cut at an angle in order get a more interestingly shaped piece.
11. Put pieces on baking pan.
12. Preheat oven to 180 C.
13. Brush pieces with coffee cream.
14. Bake in the middle of the oven for 15-20 minutes.
15. Take out and brush pieces with coffee cream again.
16. Let cool on cooling rack.
17. Dust with powdered sugar.

En Guete!








© 2014 IRENE WYRSCH "A HUMOROUS GUIDE TO SWITZERLAND" ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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