Checkerboard Christmas Cookies

Hello everybody,

Last year I shared with you my favorite Christmas bredele (cookie in Alsatian) that we make in Alsace: Vanilla Kipferl, and today I’m sharing with you another one which is a must have during that period. I will be sharing other bredele recipes this week as I’m finally done baking for Christmas so you can enjoy traditional Alsatian cookies at home. They are one of the traditions that I carry with me as I always had them for Christmas and they are impossible to find here so I needed to make them myself!

This bredele is a checkerboard buttery cookie with vanilla and chocolate. It may look complex but they are actually very easy to make and so delicious. Unlike other cookies these ones are soft and smooth which make them even better than regular cookies. These are a must have during Christmas!

Let’s start baking!

Ingredients (makes about 30 cookies):

250 g/ 1+1/2 cup flour
100 g / 1/3 cup+2 tbsp sugar
150 g / 1 stick butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
30 g/ 4 tbsp cacao
1 tbsp kirsch
1 tsp baking powder
1 egg + 1 tbsp of milk for egg wash

Preparation:

1-In a mixing bowl, mix the flour and the baking powder. Then add in the sugar and vanilla extract. Mix well.

2- Add in the kirsch and butter and mix well until the dough is homogeneous and non-sticky.

3- Separate the dough in 2 and place 1 half in a different mixing bowl. Add in the cacao powder and mix well. Because the cacao dry out the dough sometimes, you can add some more kirsch or water if needed.

4- To make the cookies, cut the chocolate dough and the vanilla dough in half. Roll each half into a rope. Place one vanilla and one chocolate next to each other and press them together gently so they stick together.

Add a vanilla rope on top of the chocolate rope you previously placed, and a chocolate one on top of the vanilla one. Press the ropes so they stick together and also give them a more rectangular shape.

Wrap in surround wrap and place in the fridge for 1h.

5- After 1h has passed, cut into slices and place them on a baking sheet. Brush the top with the egg wash and bake at 160 C/ 320 F for 8 to 10 min. Let cool down and enjoy!

This is another delicious Christmas bredele recipe that we enjoy in Alsace. I love these cookies as they have both vanilla and chocolate and unlike other cookies they are still quite soft.