Belgian Spiced Wafers
 
Makes about 48 wafers
Ingredients
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 11/2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
  • 11/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon cold water
  • 1 teaspoon meringue powder
  • ½ cup confectioners’ sugar
  • ½ cup coarse sugar
Instructions
  1. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and five-spice powder.
  2. In a large bowl and using an electric mixer at high speed, beat the brown sugar and butter until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla extract, and mix until combined.
  3. Reduce speed to low; gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, and beat until just combined. Divide the dough in half. Wrap each half with plastic wrap; chill for 1 hour.
  4. Preheat oven to 350˚. Lightly spray 2 cookie sheets with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
  5. On a lightly floured work surface, roll the first half of the dough to ¼-inch thickness. Using a 2¾-inch square cutter, cut as many squares as possible.
  6. Using a paring knife, cut each square in half, making 2 rectangles. Using a 1-inch star-shaped cutter, lightly press a star in the middle of each rectangle, being careful not to cut all the way through.
  7. Place the cookies on prepared baking sheets, spacing 1 inch apart, then freeze for 10 minutes.
  8. Bake for 8 minutes, or until edges begin to darken. Transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool completely. Repeat process with the second half of the dough.
  9. In a small bowl, combine the water and meringue powder, and whisk until frothy. Stir in confectioners’ sugar. Using a small pastry brush, lightly brush edges of cookies with mixture.
  10. Place the coarse sugar in a small, shallow dish, and gently press each cookie into sugar to coat sides. You may also paint the star impression with the icing, and coat with sugar, if desired.
Recipe by Victoria at https://victoriamag.com/belgian-spiced-wafers/