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Christmas Dessert Recipes

Gingerbread Bars

12 servings
Vegetarian Diet, Czech Baking

Are you looking for a simple-to-make dessert that is full of flavor? Gingerbread bars are full of European-style gingerbread flavor and aroma, with a light and refreshing touch of prune/plum preserve and a delicate chocolate coating. You can prepare them in any pan you like, but for easier handling, I...

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... would recommend a springform pan.

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Chef Tom Chef Tom Founder
January 31, 2024
  • 90 min.
  • 90 min.
  • 1/5
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Ingredients:

Gingerbread spice:

Bubble cake:

Greasing form:

Filling & coating:

* You can use any rye flour you have available. For a more earthy flavor, dark rye flour will be a great choice, and for a little lighter flavor, classic medium organic rye flour would be great to use. The medium rye is probably closest to the traditional Czech Rye bread.

Tools:

Directions:

1. Before you start:

1.1.

Set oven to 350°F.

1.2.

Grease and flour your baking dish.

2. Gingerbread spice:

Note:
If you don’t have a mortar and pestle, you can use a small food processor.

1.1. Place into the mortar (or small food processor):

2 TSP of whole anise seeds
1 TSP of whole fennel seeds
1 TSP of whole cloves
2 TSP of ground cinnamon
1 TSP of ground Allspice
1 TSP of ground ginger

And process using a pestle until a fine texture is reached.

3. Place into a kitchen mixer with a whisk attachment:

4 eggs (room temperature)
1 ½ cups of granulated sugar
2 sticks (½ LB) of butter – soft

Whisk on high speed until all ingredients nicely combine and turn into a creamy but still a little liquidly texture (about 3 – 5 minutes).

4. Dry ingredients mixture:

4.1. Meanwhile, prepare the dry ingredients mixture. Add into a medium mixing bowl:

3 cups of all-purpose flour
½ cup of rye flour
Gingerbread spice (prepared above)
2 TBSP of cocoa powder
1 TBSP of baking powder
Pinch of salt

Shortly stir together using a whisk until nicely combined (about 1 minute).

5. The Batter – part 2:

5.1. When eggs, sugar, and butter reach a creamy texture, stop the mixer and add:

Dry ingredients mixture prepared in the previous step.
2 cups of milk
½ cup of prune or plum preserve
1 TSP of vanilla extract

And then process on high speed until fully combined (about 1 – 2 minutes).

5.2.

Gently pour and distribute the batter in a greased and floured pan using a silicone spatula.

6. Bake:

6.1.

Bake in a preheated oven until fully baked (about 60 minutes, it may take a little longer if you bake more than one thing at a time in your oven).

6.2.

Test with a toothpick.

6.3. Let fully cool before further manipulation.

Note:
From certain kinds of pans, you can remove it while still warm (for example, a spring pan makes removing very easy). In order to perform that, you need to be very careful to prevent injury.

7. Assemble:

7.1.

Remove the thin top layer to make the top flatter (do not dispose of it but rather enjoy the top layer as a snack).

7.2.

Carefully divide it into 2 parts using a long knife.

7.3.

Spread 1 cup of prune preserves on the bottom part.

7.4.

Cover with the top part.

8. Chocolate coating:

8.1. Prepare ½ of the recipe for chocolate coating and then evenly coat the top using an offset spatula.

Recipe for chocolate coating here.

8.2.

Let it cool in until the chocolate hardens before serving (optionally speed up by placing in a refrigerator).

9. Serving:

9.1.

After fully cooled, leave it in the pan and cut it into approximately 12 even pieces (or adjust to your preference).

If parts of the ingredients stick to the side of the kitchen mixer during processing, stop the mixer, and use a spatula to mix it back in. Then, continue processing.

About the Author:
Chef TomFounder
# 1
  • Published Recipes: 248
  • Av. Recipe Evaluation:
  • Location: Iowa, USA
  • Member since: 2023-02-02
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