Berliner Brot German Christmas Cookie Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9 1/2 x 13-inch baking sheet or line with parchment paper.
• Cream together sugar and butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer. Add eggs, 1 at a time, and mix until just blended.
• Mix together flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon, baking powder, and cloves in a separate bowl.
• Add flour mixture to the wet mixture, and mix until just blended. Add hazelnuts and mix again until just blended. The mixture should have the consistency of a smooth dough.
• Transfer dough onto the prepared baking sheet and smooth with a rolling pin into all the corners.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cookie sheet has set, about 20 minutes. Cut into squares while still warm.
• Combine powdered sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl and brush icing over the cooling bars.

Steps:

• Grease and flour a large baking sheet.
• Preheat oven to 300°F.
• In a large bowl, beat eggs until fluffy.
• Add sugar gradually and continue beating until thickened and pale.
• Mix together the dry ingredients.
• Gradually add to egg mixture and mix until combined.
• Fold in lemon rind, candied fruit and almonds.
• This dough is soft and sticky, so either oil or wet your hands before handling.
• Divide dough into thirds.
• On the baking sheet, form the dough into three long flat "loaves" spaced a few inches apart to allow for spreading. If your baking sheet is large enough, it will all fit on one sheet.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes, until lightly browned.
• While the cookies are baking, make the icing by combining the ingredients. You should have a spreadable consistency.
• Remove cookies from the oven and let stand a few minutes.
• Ice the loaves while they are still on the baking sheet.
• Allow to rest for 5 minutes, then slice the loaves crosswise into approximately 1/2-3/4 inch slices. Do not wait too long before slicing, as the icing will flake off if it cools too much before you slice.
• Allow to cool on the baking sheet. These freeze well and keep well.