Description
Spiced French honey bread whispers winter comfort from Burgundy’s countryside. Warm cinnamon, ginger, and cloves weave rich memories into each delectable slice you’ll savor slowly.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups (360 milliliters) rye flour
- ½ cup (115 grams) butter, softened
- ⅔ cup (225 grams) honey
- 1 egg
Liquid Ingredients:
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) milk
Spices and Leavening Agents:
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- Pinch salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 150 degrees Celsius (300 degrees Fahrenheit) and meticulously line a standard loaf pan with parchment paper or lightly coat with unsalted butter.
- In a spacious mixing vessel, thoroughly combine rye flour, ground ginger, ground cloves, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, baking soda, and baking powder until the dry ingredients are uniformly distributed.
- Gently fold honey into the spiced flour mixture, ensuring complete and even integration of the liquid sweetener.
- Utilize an electric mixer on low speed to gradually incorporate milk, granulated sugar, and egg, pausing briefly between each addition to maintain a consistent batter texture.
- Introduce softened room-temperature butter and a pinch of salt to the mixture, blending until the ingredients form a smooth, homogeneous composition.
- Carefully transfer the batter into the prepared loaf pan, using a silicone spatula or the back of a spoon to create an even surface and eliminate potential air pockets.
- Position the pan in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 45 minutes, testing for doneness by inserting a clean wooden skewer into the center – it should emerge without any raw batter clinging to its surface.
- Once baked, remove from the oven and allow the pain d’épices to cool completely in the pan before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Savor the warm, spicy aroma of this traditional French holiday bread that fills your kitchen with festive cheer.
- Versatile recipe works perfectly as a breakfast treat, afternoon snack, or elegant dessert companion to tea or coffee.
- Rye flour provides a robust, earthy undertone that balances the intense blend of warming winter spices.
- Storing the bread wrapped in parchment paper keeps it moist and enhances the deep, complex flavor profile over several days.
- Experiment with adding chopped nuts or dried fruits like candied orange peel to create your unique spin on this classic recipe.
- Slice thinly and serve with soft butter or a dollop of whipped cream for an extra indulgent experience.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 258 kcal
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 37 mg