Lebkuchen

Honey, citrus, spices, oh my! These tasty gingerbread-style cookies are a family favorite of ours and are one of the staples on our gorgeous holiday cookie trays that Mr. The Inspired Parent makes each year.

Depending on which historical reference you read, Lebkuchen or “honey cake,” was likely invented by Franconian monks. It is documented as making an appearance around the 13th century in what is now Germany. There are varieties that are more sweet or more spicy — this version is well-balanced & great with a cup of coffee or tea.

Lebkuchen | theinspiredparent.com

Lebkuchen hold up ridiculously well if kept in an airtight container — we bake these a week or more before our holiday gatherings. Not only is it super convenient since they can be made so far in advance, but the flavor just gets better and better as a few days go by. They’re still quite good warm out of the oven or after cooling, but by days 3-5 (or later!), the spices intensify a bit, adding to the cookie’s complexity & making these the perfect bake-ahead treat for your upcoming gatherings!

Happy Baking!

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Biscochitos: a Spanish Spice Cookie

If you’re looking for a lightly-spiced yet super flavorful cookie, these lovely Biscochitos hit the mark!

Biscochitos | theinspiredparent.com

With origins in Spain, Biscochitos are quite popular in New Mexico where it is said that they are the “official” state cookie. With a great texture & lovely anise flavor combined with orange & a hint of cinnamon, these are a delightful addition to any holiday cookie tray or perfect for your next brunch.

We used star-shaped cookie cutters this time around but we’ve seen these in all different shapes including one of our favorites — the classic fleur-de-lis.

Happy Baking!

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Rum Balls

These Rum Balls are wonderfully dangerous. They may very well be my favorite holiday treat…or at least in the top three. They’re super simple — you’re basically making a batch of brownies, spiking them with rum & coating them with decorative sanding sugar or sweetened coconut. Best part is they store extremely well for 7-9 days in an air-tight container in the refrigerator so you can easily make them ahead of time to have on hand as you finish preparing your other cookies or holiday treats.

Where they become dangerous is that it’s oh-so-simple to just grab one here or there when they call your name as you open the refrigerator door. Hopefully by the time your holiday party rolls around there will still be a few left for your cookie tray!

Happy Baking!

Rum Balls | theinspiredparent.com

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Oh so yummy!
Oh so yummy!

Taffy Apple Salad

Taffy Apple Salad | theinspiredparent.com

Continuing our salad week, we’re hitting the sweet side with today’s recipe.

We’ve tried many versions of Taffy Apple Salad over the years as we searched for one with a great punch of caramel flavor, a nice mix of sweet & salty, one that travels well and is people-pleaser.

After tweaking things a bit, the ratios in this recipe gave us what we’re looking for & this delightful Taffy Apple Salad is the one we’ve stuck with for a few years now.

We love using Spanish peanuts — they’re pretty & we prefer the larger pieces of peanutty goodness — but if you prefer smaller bits, using salted, chopped peanuts would work, too.

Regarding the apples, we like adding tart & sweet in the mix to keep things balanced. It’s fun to change-up the varieties to see what you prefer the most.

Enjoy!

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