5.0 from 21 votes
Berliner Brot
Chocolate notes and gingerbread spices combine with crunchy hazelnuts to produce this German Christmas treat from Berlin that is enjoyed either soft like a brownie or crunchy like biscotti and dipped in your favorite hot beverage. And its flavor only improves with time.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings: 10
Calories: 394 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
German
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 3 tablespoons hot water
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons German Zuckerrübensirup , can substitute Golden Syrup
- 2 tablespoons rum
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons dark cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 cup finely chopped candied lemon peel (very strongly recommend homemade for BEST flavor, click link for recipe)
- 1 1/2 cups whole hazelnuts
- 3 ounces dark bittersweet chocolate , finely chopped
- FOR THE GLAZE:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F / 180 C. Grease a 7x11 or 9x13 baking pan and line the bottom with parchment paper. I like to extend the corners of parchment paper up so that I can lift the Berliner Brot out onto a cutting board to cut them. In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs and hot water until foamy. Add the brown sugar and beat until combined. Add the syrup, rum and vanilla extract and beat until combined. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Add the flour mixture to the wet mixture and beat until combined. Stir in the nuts, candied lemon peel, and finely chopped chocolate. The batter will be very stiff. Spoon the batter into the prepared baking pan and smooth the top. Bake on the middle rack for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- While the Berliner Brot is baking, prepare the glaze: Combine the powdered sugar and water to form a smooth, viscous glaze.Remove the Berliner Brot from the oven and set the baking pan on a wire rack. While it's still hot, pour over the glaze and spread evenly over the top. Let cool until the Berliner Brot is just warm. Transfer to a cutting board and use a long, sharp knife to cut the Berliner Brot down the center lengthwise and then into rectangles, or into triangles as desired. Let cool completely.
- Store the Berliner Brot in an airtight container. The flavor will improve over the next few days. Will keep for a couple of weeks. Some people like to leave the Berliner Brot out to air dry until hard and crunchy (similar to biscotti) and then store them. If dried and stored in a cool place (not the fridge) they will keep for longer.
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Serving
2Berliner Brot
Calories
394kcal
(20%)
Carbohydrates
58g
(19%)
Protein
7g
(14%)
Fat
16g
(25%)
Saturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
Monounsaturated Fat
10g
Cholesterol
33mg
(11%)
Sodium
83mg
(3%)
Potassium
326mg
(9%)
Fiber
4g
(16%)
Sugar
34g
(68%)
Vitamin A
57IU
(1%)
Vitamin C
1mg
(1%)
Calcium
84mg
(8%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 10Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 394
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 2Berliner Brot | |
| Calories | 394kcal | 20% |
| Carbohydrates | 58g | 19% |
| Protein | 7g | 14% |
| Fat | 16g | 25% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 33mg | 11% |
| Sodium | 83mg | 3% |
| Potassium | 326mg | 7% |
| Fiber | 4g | 16% |
| Sugar | 34g | 68% |
| Vitamin A | 57IU | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 84mg | 8% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.