Marzipan Holiday Surprise

Recipe of the Month: December, 2008

Ingredients:

For about 50 pieces:
1/2 cup (100 g) sugar
7 oz. (200 g) honey
2 eggs
4 1/2 cups (500 g) flour,
plus more for the work surface
1/2 package baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 pinch allspice
7 oz. (200 g) marzipan (almond paste) for baking
7 oz. (200 g) chocolate glaze
7 oz. (200 g) confectioner's sugar
2 egg whites

Baking parchment paper

Preparation:

In an electric mixer beat the sugar, honey and eggs until frothy. Sift the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and allspice into the mixture and work all the ingredients until they come together in a smooth dough. Let it rest in the fridge for about 30-60 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350° F(180° C). Knead the marzipan, warming it with your hands until it can be shaped easily. From logs about 4 inch (10 cm) in length and about as thick as a finger. Roll out the dough on the lightly floured work surface and cut it into 3x4 inch (8x10 cm) rectangles. Wrap the dough around the marzipan logs, then cut the logs into small triangular pieces. Place the pieces onto a cookie sheet lined with baking parchment paper and bake for about 15-20 minutes. Let them cool down on a cookie rack.

Melt the chocolate glaze in a double boiler. Sift the confectioner's sugar into a bowl and combine it with the egg whites. Coat half the cookies with the chocolate glaze, the other half with the sugar glaze.