Christmas is a time of year when gastronomy plays a special role, and in Spain this holiday is accompanied by a wide variety of traditional sweets. Each of these desserts not only delights the palate, but also tells a story that reflects the rich culture and traditions of different regions of the country.
HE nougat It is perhaps the most famous of Christmas desserts in Spain. Its origin dates back to the time of Arab rule in the Iberian Peninsula. It is traditionally made with almonds, honey, sugar and egg whites and comes in two main varieties: jijona nougatIt is soft and creamy, while Alicante nougat is harder and crispier. These desserts not only delight the palate, but are also a symbol of family reunion and celebration.
Another indispensable dessert of the Spanish Christmas table is Almond butter. Originally from Toledo, this paste made from almonds and sugar is molded into a variety of shapes and often decorated with candied fruits. Its smooth texture and delicate taste make it a favorite of both children and adults.
Polvorones and mantecadosOriginating in Andalusia, they are small dry cakes made with flour, lard and sugar, and available in varieties such as almond, lemon, cinnamon or chocolate. They melt in your mouth and are the perfect accompaniment to coffee or a dessert wine.
HE kings roscon It is one of the stars of the Christmas season, especially on Three Kings Day, January 6. A surprise is hidden inside this sweet bread decorated with candied fruit and powdered sugar: a small figure and a bean. The one who finds the figure will become the king or queen of the day, while the one who finds the bean will have to pay the roscón next year.
Gingerbread: A Christmas classic of Scandinavian origin
Although they are not native to Spain, gingerbread cookies have become a Christmas classic in many homes. Its history dates back to the Middle Ages in Northern Europe, where spices were valued and used to preserve food. Over time, these cookies became popular throughout Europe and today are a symbol of Christmas in many countries, including Spain.
These cookies are characterized by the following features: It is made by mixing ginger, cinnamon, cloves and often coconut with flour, butter, eggs and molasses or honey. Their popularity stems from their spicy taste and versatility in decoration, and it is common to find them in the form of dolls, stars and other Christmas motifs.
How to make gingerbread cookies in the air fryer
There is no doubt that air fryers are at the top in our country. We use them for all kinds of dishes, but now you can also make the most of them at Christmas with different dishes, like these delicious appetizers or these gingerbread cookies.
To prepare these, we found a delicious recipe on the Instagram account of Laura Ferreira (@latoneira), who already has more than 210,000 followers. These are the ingredients:
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200g crushed whole oat flakes
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1 egg (55g)
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pinch of salt
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45/50 g brown erythritol
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1 c/p spice mix (40 grams of ground cinnamon, 10 ground cloves, 10 ground nutmeg, 5 ground white pepper, 5 ground cardamom and 5 ginger powder)
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80 g plain butter or melted butter
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We mix all the ingredients thoroughly and finally add the butter until we obtain a homogeneous dough.
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Put it in a bag and keep it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
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Roll out the dough to a thickness of 0.5 centimeters using a wooden rolling pin.
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Take your cookie molds and place them on the preheated air fryer tray and baking paper. Your gingerbread cookies will be ready after 10 minutes at 160 degrees.
If you want to make it in the oven, you need to preheat it and set it to 180°C. To finish, sprinkle with powdered sugar and that’s it!