Bronte Aurells Danish Peppernuts Recipes

PEANUT BRITTLE

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine peanuts, cinnamon, and cayenne. Set aside.
• Brush the inside of a medium sized heavy saucepan with vegetable oil. Add the sugar and water to the saucepan, cook over high heat, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until it comes to a boil. Stop stirring, cover and cook for 3 minutes. Uncover, reduce heat to medium, and cook until the sugar is a light amber color. Stir in peanuts. This will greatly reduce the temperature of the sugar so work quickly. Once evenly mixed, pour mixture onto a sheet pan lined with a silicone baking mat or buttered parchment paper. Using a buttered spatula, spread thin. You will have to work quickly when pouring out and spreading the mixture in the pan. If necessary, in order to achieve single layer of peanuts, top with second sheet pan whose underside has been buttered. Cool completely and then break into pieces.

HINDBAERSNITTER (DANISH RASPBERRY SLICES)

Steps:

• Prepare the dough: In a medium bowl, toss together the butter and flour. Using a pastry cutter (or your fingertips), rub the butter bits into the flour until the mixture resembles cauliflower rice. Stir in the confectioners' sugar and salt. (The mixture will look like very finely crumbled Parmesan at this point.)
• In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and vanilla extract. Stir into the dough - or use a pastry cutter to integrate it - just until the mixture is smooth. (It may look like the mixture needs more liquid, but the butter and egg should suffice.) Take your hands and squeeze the dough a few times just until it comes together and appears fully hydrated (no dry white spots). Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (or overnight) before using.
• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Divide the chilled dough into two equal portions (each about 350 grams). Cut parchment paper to line two large baking sheets, plus a third piece of similar size to help roll out the dough. Working on one sheet of parchment at a time, roll out each portion of dough, sandwiching it between the extra sheet of parchment for ease, until roughly 10 inches wide, 12 inches long and a scant 1/4-inch thick. (Expanding the dough evenly requires even pressure applied to your rolling pin. If your dough is expanding in the wrong direction, trim outside portions and move the trimmed portion to a more desired central position, "gluing" it in place with your fingertips.) Prick each slab of dough all over with a fork to prevent them from puffing.
• Using the parchment paper to lift the dough, transfer each to a large baking sheet. Bake both until lightly golden, about 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer baking sheets to wire racks to cool, about 15 minutes.
• Once the cookies have cooled, spread one of them with the jam until evenly coated. Carefully set the other crust on top, pressing gently to adhere.
• Prepare the frosting: In a medium bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar with 2 tablespoons hot water; whisk to combine. The mixture should be as thick as loose honey; add additional hot water by the teaspoonful if needed to achieve the desired consistency. Drizzle on top of the pastry, spreading all the way to the edges in an even layer.
• Sprinkle immediately with dried raspberries or sprinkles. (The frosting can firm up fairly quickly, so you'll want to garnish it while the toppings can still stick.) Let sit until the frosting firms up, about 1 hour.
• Using a sharp knife, trim the edges of the pastry to form clean lines. (Reserve those to snack on.) Cut into squares or rectangles, in any size you fancy. Raspberry slices will keep a few days, covered, at room temperature - or in the refrigerator, if the weather is balmy (though they are best enjoyed at room temperature). If layering them for storage, separate each layer with parchment or wax paper to protect the frosting.

BRONTE AURELL'S DANISH PEPPERNUTS

Steps:

• Grease and line two baking sheets
• Grind up the spices - I put these into a pestle and mortar to grind up having removed the little seeds of the cardamom first
• Combine the ground spices in a small bowl
• In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and caster sugar until pale and fluffy, using a handheld electric whisk or balloon whisk.
• Add the spice mix and sift in the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda and a pinch of salt.
• Add the cream mix until you have an even dough.
• Wrap in clingfilm and chill in fridge for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 200c/gas mark 6
• Roll the dough into little balls, around 5-6g each. Arrange on the baking sheet.
• The dough will spread only slightly when baked, so you should be able to fit many on each sheet. Should make approx 100.
• Bake for 8 - 10 minutes until golden, and leave to cool on a wire rack, where they will crisp up, store in an air tight container.