Polish Honey and Spice Gingerbread (piernik)

Here is my version of the traditional Polish piernik - a gingerbread flavoured with honey and spices- perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  This gingerbread lasts for at least a week and also seems to improve in flavour over time when the spices have had chance to mix and mingle.  This would also makes a great food gift during this festive season.  I hope you enjoy! 


ingredients:
1 cup honey
1 cup black coffee
8 oz butter
1 cup brown sugar
3 eggs
3 tsp baking powder
4 cups plain (all purpose) flour
1 lemon zested
1 tsp all spice (pimento)
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon

preparation time: 20 minutes
cooking time:  30-40 minutes

• preheat oven to 190C and grease/line a baking pan.  I used a 9x12 pan, but you can also make this in a loaf tin. 

• add honey, coffee, sugar, butter and spices to a saucepan and mix over a gentle heat until the sugar has dissolved and the butter melted.  Leave to cool for a while you prepare the other ingredients.

• break eggs into a bowl and add the lemon zest and whisk for a few minutes until bubbly

• slowly pour in the melted butter, sugar and honey mixture onto the whisked eggs and keep beating for a few minutes until fully incorporated. 
• Be careful not to add the melted mixture too quickly as this may curdle the eggs

• add sifted flour and baking powder to the wet mixture and stir well to incorporate
• pour into greased baking tin

• bake for 30-40 minutes - it is ready when a skewer/tooth pick comes out clean. 
• leave to cool completely before cutting into squares
• eat and share with your nearest and dearest :)

You can check out my other recipes on http://chipbuttiesandnoodlesoup.blogspot.co.uk/

I hope you enjoy and try this out - let me know how you get on.