Inspiration

Spice Guide

Christmas Spice Guide

Christmas spices are just as much a part of the holidays as lights, fir trees and an extra inch or two around the waistline. Gingerbread spices are, without a doubt, some of the most popular Christmas spices, which should come as no surprise, as they contain all the components necessary for a festive atmosphere. 

Types

Cinnamon

Coriander seeds

Clove

Cardamom

Nutmeg

Allspice

Make your own Christmas Spice

Gingerbread Spices

A jar of gingerbread spices could comprise the following blend:\n\n2 tsp ginger
3 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cardamom
1 tsp cloves\nWhile these are the basic ingredients, most families have their own traditional gingerbread recipe, which of course always includes a few secret ingredients. \nThe following, for example, are also delicious:

Vanilla\n\nThe pods of the vanilla plant are dried in multiple stages, with just the scraped-out seeds usually used for baking. 

Anise

Popular spiced Christmas treats

Mince pie\n\nTraditional pie crust is filled with dried fruit, apples, raisins and nuts which have been soaked in wonderfully Christmassy flavours: cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg ensure just the right amount of jingle bells.\n\nGinger snaps\n\nCandied ginger joins forces with cinnamon and nutmeg, creating huge flavour in a small cookie that’s an absolute must at Christmas particularly in the US.\n\nChristmas pudding\n\nAlso known as plum pudding, Christmas pudding is a tradition in the UK and features dried fruit, nuts, spices, eggs, bread and suet. Once turned upside down, it’s coated in brandy. A silver coin is traditionally hidden inside and whoever finds it will get married the following year.\n \n 

How does the spice find its way into the cake?

Grinding\n\nMany spices such as allspice only develop their flavour when ground, which is very easy to do using a stone mortar. Simply place the allspice berries in the stone bowl and grind them with light pounding movements.

Infusion\n\nWhen infused, the spices don’t remain in the liquid, but merely release their flavour and are then removed again. The easiest way to do this is to place them in a teabag or tea strainer, allow them to steep or heat up, and then take the whole thing out again.

Baking\n\nYou can simply add some spices to the dough or use them as a decoration for the topping. Star anise, cinnamon sticks and vanilla pods are especially attractive, but even raisins with their similarity to fir needles can form a festive frame for a cake.

Preserved

Mulled wine, hot cider and other hot alcohilic beverages with Christmas Spices

Glögg\nThis Swedish Christmas punch is sure to heat up your hands and add colour to your cheeks in record time. Cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, raisins and dried figs come together with red wine and brandy. There’s nothing left to say but ‘Skøl!’\n\n
Mulled wine\nWhen it comes to mulled wine, you need to be able to taste the fruity, not-too-dry red wine despite all the intensive Christmas spices, so it should be strong in flavour. Traditional German mulled wine (Glühwein) contains cloves, allspice, star anise, cinnamon, coriander seed, aniseed and fresh orange. It doesn’t get any more Christmassy than that.\n\n\n\nHot apple cider\nThis hot apple beverage has it all – at least in terms of spices. Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and vanilla join forces with oranges and maple syrup. It’s entirely up to you whether you use apple wine or non-alcoholic apple juice for the apple punch – it’s going to taste Christmassy either way.\n\n\n\nBoozy gingerbread latte\nSure, we all know what a gingerbread latte is: coffee, hot milk, lots of spice – amazing! But it’s even better with a kick! Simply add a splash of rum or amaretto and the boozy gingerbread latte is finished. \n

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Giving the gift of Christmas Spices

Spices are a wonderful gift and the best part about it: it’s largely fail-safe. If your colleague suddenly goes vegan, she can do as much with the spices as the friendly postman who can never turn down a steak.\n‘The wrong spices are just as painful as the wrong notes.’
(Gioacchino Rossini)\nNot all spices work well together. Joined with the right partner, a successful composition can create wonderful Christmas flavour and enhance the festive atmosphere that wouldn’t exist without candlelight and Christmas treats. We’ve therefore put together a list of true dream dates.\n\n\nHoliday seasoning\nPerfect for goose, roast pork or chestnut soup\n1 tsp coriander
2 bay leaves
1 tsp juniper berries
1 tbsp black pepper
1 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp allspice\n \n\nChristmas punch spices\nWhether as mulled wine, glögg or hot cider, these spices ensure distinctive flavour and wonderful aroma – and also taste great in fruit tea.\n2 cinnamon sticks
1 tbsp cloves
3–4 star anise pods
Oranges and lemon peels\n\n\nBaked apple spices\nUsed, of course, in delicious baked apples, but can also be added to a delectable apple sauce served on vanilla ice cream or to hot apple juice for more flavour.\nSeeds of a vanilla pod
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp cloves