This publish could include affiliate hyperlinks. See my disclosure coverage.
Is it a brownie? Is it gingerbread? Is it biscotti? It’s Berliner Brot! Chocolate notes and gingerbread spices mix with crunchy hazelnuts to provide this distinctive “Berliner bread” whose taste solely improves with time. This genuine Berliner Brot recipe captures all the heat and appeal of this favourite German Christmas deal with.
In search of extra iconic recipes from Berlin? These Berliner (German donuts) and Currywurst are each a should!
What’s Berliner Brot?
The identify interprets to Berliner bread and is also called Berliner Christmas bread. This conventional German baked good is a singular mixture of brownies, gingerbread and biscotti: It’s like a chocolate brownie with nuts that’s seasoned with gingerbread spices, flavored with rum, vanilla, and candied lemon peel, and sometimes sliced in rectangular items like biscotti with some folks letting harden till crunchy (so excellent for dipping!). As a result of Berliner Brot is made with out butter it hardens in a short time when overlooked and uncovered to air.
Relying on private desire, Berliner Brot can both be eaten comfortable (that is completed by conserving it saved in an hermetic container) or eaten arduous with a texture much like biscotti (allow them to sit out to air dry earlier than storing them).
Berliner Brot Components and Substitutions
An ingredient utilized in conventional baking that older recipes for Berliner Brot likewise name for is Zuckerrübensirup, or beet sugar syrup. Different nations together with Belgium, Holland, and Sweden use this as effectively in lots of conventional baked items. There isn’t any equal within the U.S.. In contrast to Karo syrup that’s cloyingly candy with no taste, European sugar beet syrup has caramel-like tones and deep taste nuance. You possibly can purchase Zuckerrübensirup on-line. In a pinch you’ll be able to substitute Golden Syrup. Don’t substitute molasses or black treacle, they’re too robust and will not be the identical taste profile.
Historically Berliner Brot requires an ingredient referred to as Apfelkraut, which is a decreased and extremely concentrated apple and pear jam that’s thick and virtually like a syrup. It’s each candy and tangy with advanced fruity taste notes. It’s loved in each candy and savory purposes, whether or not unfold on bread or served with Kartoffelpuffer, served with arduous cheeses and meats, or added as a flavoring to gravies as with some regional variations of Sauerbraten. It’s just about inconceivable to seek out in the US so I normally convey some again with me once I return residence to Germany. As a result of it’s so troublesome to supply I’ve omitted it from my recipe. In the event you’re capable of supply it (there are some on-line German shops that carry it) add two tablespoons of it and cut back the golden syrup to 2 tablespoons.
Berliner Brot is historically made with complete hazelnuts however you can too use complete almonds (or perhaps a mixture of the 2). Slivered almonds work as effectively. The concept is so as to add a little bit of crunch so keep away from utilizing sliced almonds.
Use darkish cocoa powder and darkish chocolate to make this. Sadly the Guittard black cocoa powder I’ve used for years has been discontinued however fortuitously King Arthur Flour Black Cocoa has come to the rescue. In the event you can’t supply an excellent darkish cocoa powder use what you’ve got after which use the most effective darkest chocolate bar yow will discover. In any case, don’t let not having specialty chocolate preserve you from making and having fun with this Berliner Brot.
Berliner Bread Storage
Berliner Brot is made with out butter or fats and so it dries out in a short time when uncovered to air. Many individuals intentionally allow them to get arduous and crunchy, much like Italian biscotti, and luxuriate in consuming them dipped in espresso, tea, or scorching chocolate. Others want them comfortable. The selection is totally yours. To maintain them comfortable, retailer them in an hermetic container as quickly as they’ve cooled down. In the event you want them arduous, allow them to sit out till arduous after which switch them to a container to retailer. As a result of Berliner Brot is made with out butter it hardens in a short time when overlooked and uncovered to air. Both means they are going to preserve for about 2 weeks, a bit longer in the event that they’re dried out/arduous.
Tools
Relying on how thick or skinny you want your Berliner Brot, you should utilize both a 7×11 inch baking pan or a 9×13 inch pan. A 7×11 inch pan will allow you to slice them into biscotti-like rectangles and a 9×13 pan will create thinner Berliner Brot which you could minimize into squares or diamond shapes. It’s totally a matter of private desire and I’ve seen them ready and bought each methods in Germany. For level of reference, I used a 7×11 inch pan and the end result is what you see within the footage on this publish.
Berliner Brot Recipe
Let’s get began!
Preheat the oven to 350 F / 180 C. Grease a 7×11 or 9×13 baking pan and line the underside with parchment paper. I like to increase the corners of parchment paper up in order that I can carry the Berliner Brot out onto a reducing board to chop them.
In a big mixing bowl, beat the eggs and scorching water till foamy.
Add the brown sugar and beat till mixed.
Add the syrup, rum and vanilla extract and beat till mixed.
In a separate bowl, mix the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt.
Add the flour combination to the moist combination and beat till mixed.
Stir within the nuts, candied lemon peel, and finely chopped chocolate.
The batter will probably be very stiff.
Spoon the batter into the ready baking pan and easy the highest.
Bake on the center rack for 25-Half-hour or till a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clear.
Switch the baking tray to a wire rack.
Whereas the Berliner Brot is baking, put together the glaze: Mix the powdered and sugar and water to type a easy glaze.
As quickly as you take away the baking pan from the oven and whereas the Berliner Brot remains to be scorching, pour over the glaze and unfold evenly excessive.
Let cool for a couple of minutes till the Berliner Brot is simply heat. Switch to a reducing board and use a protracted, sharp knife to chop the Berliner Brot down the middle lengthwise after which into rectangles, or into squares or triangles as desired. Let the items cool utterly.
Retailer the Berliner Brot in an hermetic container. The flavour will enhance over the subsequent few days. In the event you want your Berliner Brot arduous and crunchy, allow them to air dry till arduous after which switch them to a container. They’ll preserve for about 2 weeks if not longer.
Take pleasure in!
For extra conventional German Christmas goodies attempt my:
Berliner Brot
Chocolate notes and gingerbread spices mix with crunchy hazelnuts to provide this German Christmas deal with from Berlin that’s loved both comfortable like a brownie or crunchy like biscotti and dipped in your favourite scorching beverage. And its taste solely improves with time.
- 7×11 inch baking pan , for thicker Berliner Brot (this pan is what I used for this recipe; see pics for thickness level of reference)
- 2 massive eggs
- 3 tablespoons scorching water
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons German Zuckerrübensirup , can substitute Golden Syrup
- 2 tablespoons rum
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons darkish cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon floor cloves
- 1/4 cup finely chopped candied lemon peel (very strongly advocate home made for BEST taste, click on hyperlink for recipe)
- 1 1/2 cups complete hazelnuts
- 3 ounces darkish bittersweet chocolate , finely chopped
- Preheat the oven to 350 F / 180 C. Grease a 7×11 or 9×13 baking pan and line the underside with parchment paper. I like to increase the corners of parchment paper up in order that I can carry the Berliner Brot out onto a reducing board to chop them. In a big mixing bowl, beat the eggs and scorching water till foamy. Add the brown sugar and beat till mixed. Add the syrup, rum and vanilla extract and beat till mixed. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Add the flour combination to the moist combination and beat till mixed. Stir within the nuts, candied lemon peel, and finely chopped chocolate. The batter will probably be very stiff. Spoon the batter into the ready baking pan and easy the highest. Bake on the center rack for 25-Half-hour or till a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clear.
- Whereas the Berliner Brot is baking, put together the glaze: Mix the powdered and sugar and water to type a easy glaze.Take away the Berliner Brot from the oven and set the baking pan on a wire rack. Whereas it is nonetheless scorching, pour over the glaze and unfold evenly excessive. Let cool till the Berliner Brot is simply heat. Switch to a reducing board and use a protracted, sharp knife to chop the Berliner Brot down the middle lengthwise after which into rectangles, or into triangles as desired. Let cool utterly.
- Retailer the Berliner Brot in an hermetic container. The flavour will enhance over the subsequent few days. Will preserve for a few weeks. Some folks like to depart the Berliner Brot out to air dry till arduous and crunchy (much like biscotti) after which retailer them. If dried and saved in a cool place (not the fridge) they are going to preserve for longer.
Serving: 2Berliner BrotEnergy: 394kcalCarbohydrates: 58gProtein: 7gFats: 16gSaturated Fats: 3gPolyunsaturated Fats: 2gMonounsaturated Fats: 10gLdl cholesterol: 33mgSodium: 83mgPotassium: 326mgFiber: 4gSugar: 34gVitamin A: 57IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 84mgIron: 3mg
Hello, I’m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Connoisseur the place you may discover scrumptious originals, revitalized classics, and easily downright good eats from world wide! Initially from Germany, later raised in England, world-traveled, and now residing within the U.S., from my globally-influenced kitchen I invite you to tour the world by means of your style buds!