Zurich Tirggel (Honey Biscuits)

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Cookies bars Medium

Tirggel are crisp, paper-thin honey biscuits pressed in carved molds so the pictures stand out. The oven is hot and the bake is brief, so the tops brown while the bottoms stay pale. Makes 20 biscuits in about 8 hr 50 min.

Prep 30 min

Cook 20 min

Cooling 8 hr

Total 8 hr 50 min

Yield 20 biscuits

Diet Dairy free

Ingredients

Adjust yield

biscuits

9 tbsp (200 g)honey
⅓ cup (40 g)powdered sugar
1 tbsp (15 ml)rose water
¾ tsp (2 g)ground cinnamon
½ tsp (1 g)ground ginger
½ tsp (1 g)ground nutmeg
½ tsp (1 g)ground cloves
1 pinch (1 g)fine salt
2 cups (250 g)all-purpose flour
1 tsp (5 ml)neutral oil, for the mold

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Instructions

Warm the honey, powdered sugar, rose water, spices and salt in a saucepan over low heat, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Do not boil.
Stir in the flour to make a soft, slightly sticky dough. Knead briefly, adding a little flour if needed.
Wrap airtight and refrigerate overnight (8 hours) or up to 3 days.
Heat the oven to 425 F (220 C) and line baking sheets with parchment.
Roll the dough on a floured surface to about 3 mm (1/8 inch) thick. Lightly oil a carved wooden mold or cookie stamp and press firmly into the dough.
Cut around the impression with a sharp knife and transfer to the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough.
Bake on the top rack for 4 to 5 minutes, until the tops are brown and the bottoms are still pale.
Cool completely on a rack; the biscuits crisp and harden as they cool.

Tips

Press the mold in one firm motion so the picture comes out sharp.
Bake in small batches and watch closely; they burn in seconds.
Without a mold, use a deeply embossed cookie stamp.
Good with hot coffee or tea.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make zurich tirggel (honey biscuits)?

Plan on 30 minutes of prep and 20 minutes of cooking, plus 8 hours to chill. The recipe makes 20 biscuits.

How should I store zurich tirggel (honey biscuits)?

Store in an airtight tin at room temperature for up to 2 weeks; they stay hard and are meant to be dipped in coffee.

Can I make zurich tirggel (honey biscuits) ahead?

Yes. It needs time to chill and set, so it is a good one to make the day before you serve it.

A thin, hard honey biscuit from Zurich, pressed with relief pictures and baked until only the top browns. Serve it with hot coffee or tea.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 20 servings this recipe makes.

87 Calories / serving

0.4g Fat

19.9g Carbs

1.3g Protein

10.2g Sugar

Whole recipe (20 servings): ~1740 cal · 8g fat · 398g carbs · 26g protein · 204g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.