These almond logs are greatest if made with entire, skinned almonds which might be toasted within the oven. Floor in a meals processor, they supply extra texture than finely milled almond flour. For those who select to make use of the flour (unsweetened), toast it within the oven, stirring ceaselessly, taking care that it doesn’t scorch. (Hazelnuts can be utilized along with almonds if desired.) The spices, additionally, can be utilized entire or floor. If utilizing entire ones, toast them (all besides the cinnamon) earlier than grinding. The sesame seed will get toasted, however not floor.
As soon as the nuts and spices are toasted, the alfajores don’t require the oven. The substances are floor, blended and formed. Completed by dipping in sugar syrup, they hold effectively as soon as dry.
You should use packaged effective dry breadcrumbs—unseasoned—however you can too make your personal from plain breadsticks or sliced bread that has been toasted within the oven after which floor finely in a meals processor.
The unique recipe for alfajores requires bigger portions of all of the spices, particularly cloves. This model permits the flavors of honey and almonds to predominate. You possibly can definitely play with the spicing to go well with your self. Don’t be afraid to style the combination earlier than you roll out the logs.
The alfajores hold for weeks if they’re individually wrapped in tissue paper, positioned in an air-tight container, and saved in a cool place.
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| Honey, spices, almonds and breadcrumbs. |
Makes 18 (3-inch) rolls.
8 ounces blanched and skinned almonds (1 ¾ cups floor almonds)
¼ cup sesame seeds
¼ teaspoon floor aniseed
½ teaspoon floor cloves
¼ teaspoon floor coriander seeds
1 ¾ cups effective dry bread crumbs (from 7 ounces breadsticks)
1 teaspoon floor cinnamon
¼ cup sugar
2/3 cup honey (8 ounces)
For the glaze:
½ cup sugar
½ cup sifted confectioners’ sugar
Preheat oven to 350ºF.
Unfold the almonds on a rimmed baking sheet. Unfold the sesame, aniseed, cloves and coriander in a small baking pan. Toast the almonds and spices, stirring after 2 minutes. The spices needs to be aromatic and the sesame toasted in 3 minutes. Take away them. Stir the almonds once more and toast till evenly golden, about 5 minutes whole. Take away the almonds from the oven. (Flip off the oven.)
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| Grind almonds effective or coarse. |
Grind the almonds in a meals processor as finely as potential, leaving any coarser items. (If making breadcrumbs from breadsticks, grind the breadsticks within the processor.) Mix the bottom almonds, crumbs, toasted spices and cinnamon in a bowl.
Place the ¼ cup of sugar in a pan with ¼ cup of water. Deliver to a boil and cook dinner 1 minute. Take away from the warmth.
Place the honey in a pan and produce it to a boil. Take away the pan from the warmth. Add the boiled sugar-water to the honey. Stir within the almonds, crumbs and spices and blend effectively. The combination can be sticky.
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| Make balls dimension of golf balls. |
Whereas the almond-honey combination remains to be heat, divide it into 18 balls, every weighing 1 ½ ounces or in regards to the dimension of a golf ball,. Place a sheet of baking parchment on a piece floor.
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| Roll logs of almond combination. |
Working with one ball at a time, squeeze the balls to compress them, then roll or mould them into 3-inch logs. Place them as formed on a sheet pan lined with baking parchment.
For the glaze, mix ½ cup of sugar in a pan with ½ of water. Deliver to a boil and cook dinner 5 minutes.
Dip the almond logs into the sugar syrup. Drain them and place on a rack to dry.
When the almond logs are dry, dredge them in confectioners’ sugar. Wrap them individually in tissue paper. Retailer the alfajores in an air-tight container. Serve the alfajores of their wrappings or slice them and place on a sweet dish.
Fig Rolls
Pan de Higos
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| Minced figs are blended with spices and floor almonds, formed into rolls. |
Omit the confectioners’ sugar, if desired. The figs are fairly candy sufficient with out added sugar. Additionally, if most popular, use a little bit candy wine as a substitute of the anise liqueur that’s conventional. If utilizing dried figs which have been packaged with a coating of rice flour (pictured under), simply take away stems, shake off any extra flour and mince them.
The fig rolls hold very effectively saved in an air-tight container in a cool place.
Serve the fig roll sliced into discs and positioned on a sweet dish. It additionally combines properly with salty meals akin to serrano or ibérico ham. Skewer skinny slices of ham and fig roll on picks for an appetizer. Sandwich skinny slices of fig roll with smoked ham or bacon and bake in puff pastry. Serve the fig roll accompanied by aged Manchego or blue cheese.
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| Dried figs are coated in rice flour. |
Makes 4 (6-inch) rolls.
2 kilos dried figs, stems eliminated
¼ cup confectioners’ sugar
1 cup blanched and skinned almonds
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon floor aniseed
¼ teaspoon freshly floor black pepper (non-obligatory)
¼ teaspoon floor ginger
Grated lemon peel
¼ cup candy anise liqueur, brandy or candy wine
3 tablespoons toasted sesame seed
Sprinkle the figs with half of the confectioners’ sugar. Put the figs by means of a meals grinder (or chop them in batches in a meals processor). There needs to be about 6 cups of pulp. Place it in a bowl.
Put apart 16 almonds. Chop the remainder and add to the figs.
Combine the remaining sugar with the cinnamon, aniseed, pepper, ginger and lemon peel. Sprinkle over the fig combination and blend it in.
Add the anisette liqueur, brandy or candy wine. With the fingers, knead the combination to mix effectively.
Divide the fig combination into 4 equal parts. Roll every right into a log, about 6 inches lengthy and 1 ½ inch thick.
Unfold the toasted sesame seed on a sheet of parchment paper. Roll the fig logs within the sesame, patting to flatten the logs barely. Press 4 reserved almonds into the highest of every of the fig rolls.
Let the rolls dry for 12 hours, then wrap them tightly in plastic wrap.
To serve, minimize the rolls crosswise into discs and place on a sweet dish.
Extra recipes for conventional Christmas sweets:
