Name: Traditional Latvian Gingerbread Heart with Royal Icing
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 12 servings
Cuisine: Latvian
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 cup brown sugar; 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted; 1/2 cup honey; 1/2 tsp salt; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; 1/2 tsp ground ginger; 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg; 1/2 tsp ground cloves; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/4 cup buttermilk; 1/4 cup water; 1/4 cup royal icing; 1/4 tsp food coloring (optional)

A classic Latvian gingerbread heart decorated with intricate royal icing designs, perfect for festive occasions.

Method

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
Stir in honey, buttermilk, and water. Mix until well combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and baking soda.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a dough forms.
Roll out the dough to 1/4-inch thickness and cut into heart shapes. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are slightly browned. Cool completely.
Prepare royal icing by mixing powdered sugar, egg white, and a drop of water until smooth. Add food coloring if desired.
Pipe intricate designs onto the cooled gingerbread hearts using a piping bag with a small tip.