The Nonnette is a French pastry, translating literally to "little nuns". It is a small gingerbread cake made of honey, rye flour, and usually filled with orange marmalade or honey. It is also typically glazed with a mixtures of egg whites, sugar, and lemon juice, and is frequently served during Christmastime.[1]
Nonnettes tend to have a sticky, moist texture due to their glaze and a spicy taste due to a combination of cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.
History
Nonnettes were originally prepared in Dijon, France.[2] According to legend, they were first created by nuns in the abbey during the Middle Ages, thus leading to their namesake.[3] They were popularized by Mulot & Petitjean, a baking company established in Dijon in 1796, who began packaging and selling nonnettes to the general public.[4]