Go Back
Swiss Basler Lakerli cookies in a stack with a red and white string wrapped around the bundle.

Basler Läckerli (Classic Swiss Honey Spice Cookies)

No ratings yet
Traditional Basler Läckerli are firm Swiss honey spice cookies made with almonds, candied citrus peel, warm spices, and a thin lemon glaze. Made without butter and designed to improve with time.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Resting Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 38 minutes
Course: cookies, Dessert

Equipment

  • Small Rolling Pin The dough is incredibly thick and sticky. A small pastry roller or a sturdy offset spatula is a lifesaver for pressing it evenly into the baking sheet while it's still warm.
  • Pastry Brush For painting that boiling-hot sugar glaze over the slab the exact second it leaves the oven. A silicone brush or a natural bristle pastry brush works perfectly here.
  • Heavy-Duty Chef’s Knife A long, sharp chef's knife makes clean, straight cuts through the sticky dough incredibly easy.
  • Pre-cut Parchment Paper Sheets Absolutely non-negotiable for this recipe so the honey doesn't permanently fuse to their baking sheets.

Ingredients
  

For the Dough:
  • 2 cups 250g all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup 100g ground almonds (almond meal)
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp ground cloves
  • ½ cup 75g finely chopped candied orange peel
  • ½ cup 75g finely chopped candied lemon peel
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • Zest of 1 orange
  • ½ tsp almond extract
  • ⅔ cup 225g dark wildflower honey
  • ½ cup 100g granulated sugar
For the Lemon Glaze:
  • 1 cup 120g powdered sugar
  • 1 ½ – 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Method
 

  1. Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, ground almonds, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Stir in the candied orange peel, candied lemon peel, lemon zest, orange zest, and almond extract until everything is evenly distributed.
  2. Melt the Honey & Sugar: In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the honey and granulated sugar. Stir constantly for about 3–4 minutes until the sugar completely dissolves and the mixture is warm and liquid. Do not let it boil.
  3. Form the Dough: Pour the warm honey-sugar mixture directly into the dry ingredients. Stir with a sturdy wooden spoon until a uniform dough forms. It will be very thick, heavy, and sticky.
  4. Roll and Rest: Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. While the dough is still warm, turn it out onto the paper. Using slightly damp hands or a damp rolling pin, press and roll the dough into a neat rectangle, about ¼-inch thick. Cover the pan with a clean kitchen towel and let it rest at room temperature for 2 hours to dry out the surface.
  5. Bake: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Use a fork to lightly prick holes across the top of the dough. Bake for 15 minutes until the slab is firm and has turned a beautiful, deep amber-brown.
  6. Glaze and Slice: While it bakes, whisk your powdered sugar and lemon juice together to make a thin, brushable glaze. The exact second the pan comes out of the oven, brush the lemon glaze evenly over the scorching hot surface. Immediately use a sharp chef's knife to trim the edges and cut the hot slab into small 1x2-inch rectangles. Do not let it cool before cutting, or it will become too hard to slice cleanly.

Notes

  • Texture: Läckerli are meant to be firm when fresh, they soften over time.
  • Flavor improves with time: Best after 1–3 days.

Storage 

Store Basler Läckerli in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. The flavor deepens as they rest.

Disclaimer: I am not a certified nutritionist. Nutrition facts are calculated using an automated database of common ingredients and are intended as an estimate only. Variations can occur depending on product brands, measuring methods, and ingredient swaps.

Did you make this recipe?

I'd love to know how it turned out!