Nikolausplätzchen

Ingredients

• 50 g powdered sugar
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• raw marzipan dough
• red food coloring
• sugar lens
• colored sugar beads
• 150 g butter
• 250 g honey
• 250 g brown sugar
• 100 g Ground Almonds
• 450 g flour
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder
• 2 tsp gingerbread spice mix
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp potash
• 2 tbsp rum

Instructions

1. 1.

   Add the butter in pieces with the honey and sugar to a saucepan and heat while stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and let cool. Then add the almonds, 400 g flour, all spices and the egg and knead thoroughly with a hand mixer (kneading attachment), adding more flour if needed. Whisk the potash in a small bowl with the rum until smooth. Add this to the dough and continue kneading until the dough shines and no longer sticks.

2. 2.

   Cover the bowl with cling film and let rest overnight in the refrigerator.

3. 3.

   Preheat the oven to 180°C fan.

4. 4.

   Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut shapes as desired, e.g., Santa faces and stars. Place on the tray, bake for 15‑20 minutes until golden yellow, then carefully lift from the tray. Cool on a wire rack.