Magenbrot
Spiced gingerbread bites
Magenbrot: glazed spiced gingerbread bites from southern German fairs
The smell of Magenbrot drifts over every Volksfest, Kirchweih and Christmas market in Bavaria, Baden and Swabia, where it is sold warm in paper cones. The name means stomach bread, because the spices were once thought to help digestion. Small diamonds of honey-spiced cake with cocoa are dipped in a shiny chocolate glaze that sets with a slight crunch. They keep for weeks in a tin, so they are made in big batches. The common mistake is overbaking, which makes the pieces hard instead of soft and chewy. Chef's tip: cut the cake while it is still warm, then glaze the pieces once they are cool so the glaze stays glossy.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 10
Ingredients
For the cake
- 5 ½ oz honey
- 2 ⅞ oz brown sugar
- 1 ⅜ oz butter
- ½ cup milk
- 10 ½ oz plain flour
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 ¾ oz ground almonds
For the glaze
- 5 ½ oz icing sugar
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 3 tbsp hot water
- 1 ¾ oz dark chocolatechopped
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What you'll need
Spices & pantry
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Warm 5 ½ oz honey, 2 ⅞ oz brown sugar, 1 ⅜ oz butter and ½ cup milk in a pan until the butter melts, then leave to cool until lukewarm. Heat the oven to 350°F (325°F fan) and line a 25 x 35 cm tray.
5 minStep 2: Mix 10 ½ oz plain flour, 2 tbsp cocoa powder, 2 tsp gingerbread spice (Lebkuchengewürz), 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda and 1 ¾ oz ground almonds, pour in the honey mixture and stir into a soft, sticky dough.
5 minStep 3: Spread it in the tray about 1.5 cm thick and bake for 18–20 minutes until risen and a skewer comes out clean. Do not bake longer or it turns hard.
20 minStep 4: While still warm, cut into 3 cm diamonds and leave to cool.
5 minStep 5: For the glaze, melt 1 ¾ oz dark chocolate with 3 tbsp hot water, then whisk in 5 ½ oz icing sugar and 1 tbsp cocoa powder until smooth and runny. Toss the pieces in the glaze and spread them on a rack until set, about 2 hours. Keep in a tin for up to 3 weeks.
10 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 260 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 46 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does magenbrot take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 10 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of honey?
- Maple syrup or golden syrup, same amount.
- What can I use instead of brown sugar?
- White sugar + 1 tbsp molasses or treacle per 200g.
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