Berliner Brot (German Christmas Cookie)

Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Servings: 24
Yield: 24 servings

Description

Berliner Brot is a classic German bar cookie with hazelnuts and chocolate, that is only eaten during advent and Christmas.

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups sugar
10 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 large eggs
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 pinch ground cloves
1 1/3 cups ground hazelnuts
1 cup powdered sugar
1 medium lemon, juiced

Directions

1 Gather all ingredients. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9 1/2 x 13-inch baking sheet or line with parchment paper.
2 Cream together sugar and butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer. Add eggs, 1 at a time, and mix until just blended.
3 Mix together flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon, baking powder, and cloves in a separate bowl.
4 Add flour mixture to the wet mixture, and mix until just blended. Add hazelnuts and mix again until just blended. The mixture should have the consistency of a smooth dough.
5 Transfer dough onto the prepared baking sheet and smooth with a rolling pin into all the corners.
6 Bake in the preheated oven until cookie sheet has set, about 20 minutes. Cut into squares while still warm.
7 Combine powdered sugar and lemon juice in a small bowl and brush icing over the cooling bars.