Brussels-based food blogger, Douceurs d’Alger, shares her recipe for the ultimate no-knead French bread.
Food blogger Sophie Vanderhaeghe (aka Douceurs d’Alger) shares her recipe for subtly-spiced, pain d’épices. Bursting with warm flavours, thanks to the generous helping of honey and spices, this classic French loaf is the ultimate comfort food.
Ingredients
260g plain flour
50g butter, melted
40g brown sugar
2 eggs
100g milk
350g honey
10g baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp whole cloves
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp star anise
1 tsp ground ginger
Method
- Mix the milk, honey, cloves, cinnamon, star anise and ground ginger together in a small saucepan.
- Place over low heat and leave for a few minutes, stirring regularly.
- Remove the cloves and star anise and set mixture aside.
- Melt the butter in the microwave.
- Then, in a mixing bowl, sift the flour, baking powder and baking soda.
- In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and sugar together. Then, stir in the milk and honey mixture.
- Once thoroughly combined, slowly add the flour mixture, mixing well. Finally, add the melted butter.
- Pre-heat the oven to 170°C.
- Line a cake tin with baking paper and pour the mixture into it.
- You can sprinkle with flaked almonds, sugar pearls or leave as is.
- Pre-heat the oven to 160°.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes. Insert a knife into the centre of the cake to check it has set.
- Remove the cake from the mould and let cool on a wire rack.
- Store the cake in an airtight container.
