Tolkien Week: Lembas

Prep: 10-15 minutes with Mixer longer without Bake: 12 minutes

Happy Tolkien Week! This week is in honor of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins birthday (September 22nd) and the week is devoted to a celebration of the works by J.R.R. I looked through various recipes of lembas, given to the Fellowship while in Lothlórien. I picked the version I did because it had ingredients I already owned. This version of the bread is like a slightly creamier biscuit that crumbles and tastes of honey and sweetness.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups flour

• 1 tbls baking powder

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 1/2 cup butter (I used unsalted)

• 1/3 cup brown sugar

• 1 tsp cinnamon (for once I didn’t add more)

• 1/2 tsp honey

• 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream

• 1/2 tsp vanilla

Prep

The butter smears and holds the dry ingredients

This turned quickly into a dough

I didn’t have any extra dough

1. Preheat your oven to 425 F (218 C)

2. If you’re lucky enough to own a mixer, use that with the harder paddle attachment

3. Add the flour, salt, and baking powder to the bowl and mix it gently

4. Slice the butter (not soft but slightly less than fully cold. I had it sitting out for about 15 minutes first) into a few chunks and add it to the bowl

5. Mix this until it makes a small crumble mixture. (Be careful turning on at first, the flour might scatter into the wind

6. Add the cinnamon and sugar and mix in well

7. Add the vanilla, cream, and honey and mix well until a dough forms

8. Roll out the dough into a square that’s around 1/2 inch thick

9. Cut 3 inch squares and lay on a cookie tray. (I lined my tray with foil and they didn’t stick)

10. Take a knife and score in an X corner to corner making sure not to cut all the way through

11. Bake for 12 minutes or until it’s slightly brown

12. Allow to cool completely before eating, this is meant to be eaten dry and room temp

Afterthoughts

Make sure they cool before eating!

These were fantastic. They tasted like honey biscuits but just the right bit of sweet instead of savory. I also drizzled more honey on it and this worked so well. They were not as light in color as in the movies but the taste is amazing. Right after, and the morning after so far. They crumble so nicely, puffed up so well, and just melt while you eat. The dryness isn’t oppressive but a feature. I loved everything about it and it was fast and easy to make.