Recipe

Spice cookies are the most well-known and traditional Moravian cookies. They are also the thinnest cookies in the world and are traditionally eaten on special occasions. Moravian spice cookies are flavored with spices and molasses. The original recipe dates from the 17th century. 

As part of the Nativity tradition, the cookie's shape used to be more focused on farm animals, but you can find them in a variety of shapes now. Certain bakeries roll and cut cookies by hand, while others use a mechanized process. Though the taste is unchanged by the mechanized process, the cookies are not as thin as when made by hand. 

Taking inspiration from spice cookies, several varieties of cookies have appeared over the years, including lemon, sugar, sugared ginger, butter rum, and orange brandy cookies. 

Moravian spice cookies are a traditional holiday treat that every foodie should try. These cookies, sweetened with molasses and flavored with seasonal spices, have a bite that pairs well with a cup of coffee and cocoa on a chilly winter day.

The process of making these cookies is a delight in itself. The dough is rolled to a paper-thin thickness, cut into discs, and baked to spiced, crispy perfection using powerful spices like ginger, cloves, pepper, and sometimes even ground mustard. 

Let’s teach you how to make these spice cookies the right way, with the right ingredients and method.

Required Ingredients

• 1/4 cup molasses 

• 1 large egg yolk 

• 6 tablespoons of butter

• 3/4 cup brown sugar

• 1 2/3 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/2 tablespoon salt

• 1/4 tablespoon baking soda

• 1/2 tablespoon baking powder

• 1/4 tablespoon ground ginger and cloves 

• 1 tablespoon of each ground cinnamon and nutmeg 

• 1/2 tablespoon ground mustard

• 1/2 tablespoon white pepper

How to prepare?

1. Whisk the flour, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, pepper, mustard, baking powder, and baking soda together in a bowl.

2. Blend the butter and sugar in a separate large bowl until it is light and fluffy. Then, add molasses and egg yolk. 

3. Add the dry ingredients and blend until the dough is loose and crumbly for about 3 minutes. 

4. Put about 1/3 of the dough on wax paper on a clean surface. Gently press it down and top it with another wax sheet. 

5. Roll the dough as thin as possible and gently peel the top sheet. 

6. Replace the sheet and let it freeze for 30 minutes. 

7. Remove the top sheet, cut the cookies with the 2-3 inch cookie cutter, and return them to the freezer for another 15 minutes. 

8. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. 

9. Place the frozen cookies on a clean wax sheet and let them bake in the oven until crisp and evenly colored for 10 minutes. 

10. Keep an eye on them while they bake. Remember the cookies must be brown and not too dark. 

Nutrients in Spice Cookies

Spice cookies make an ideal present for family and friends as they are rich in nutrients. A 14-gram cookie has 35 milligrams of sodium and 12 grams of carbohydrates. It also has 10 milligrams of calcium, 40 milligrams of potassium, 0.4 milligrams of iron, and 60 calories.

Conclusion 

These simple, crisp cookies with molasses and spice are a great antidote to a long day. But, except for eating them, it appears that nothing about these adored cookies comes easily. There is a constant battle to get the dough to the proper thickness while making them. Moreover, they should be stored properly in an airtight container. 

Photo by Anna Malysheva: https://www.pexels.com/photo/cookies-on-a-plate-12186433/