German Lebkuchen Recipe

Name: German Lebkuchen
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 510 min
Ingredients: 0.75 cup brown sugar; 0.5 cup honey; 0.5 cup dark molasses; 1 egg; 3 cups sifted all-purpose flour; 1.25 teaspoons ground nutmeg; 1.25 teaspoons ground cinnamon; 0.5 teaspoon ground cloves; 0.5 teaspoon ground allspice; 0.5 teaspoon baking soda; 0.5 cup slivered almonds; 0.5 cup candied mixed fruit peel, finely chopped; 1 egg white, beaten; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 0.5 teaspoon lemon zest; 1.5 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Lebkuchen are sweet and spicy German cookies full of festive flavor. These cookies, perfect for the Christmas season, are flavored with warm spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice, and often feature nuts, candied fruits, and a delicious lemon glaze or chocolate coating. This lebkuchen recipe will quickly become a seasonal favorite!

Ingredients

Brown sugar: Used to sweeten the cookies.
Honey and molasses: Honey adds a light, floral flavor, while molasses contributes a deep, rich sweetness.
Egg: A whole egg is used for the dough, and egg white for the glaze.
All-purpose flour: Forms the base of the dough.
Spices: Nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice give the cookies their signature flavor.
Baking soda: Helps the cookies rise and become light and airy.
Almonds: Slivered almonds provide a crunchy texture and nutty taste.
Candied fruit peel: Finely chopped mixed candied fruit adds sweetness and texture.
Lemon: Both the zest and juice are used in the glaze to provide a citrusy brightness.

Instructions

Step 1: In a large bowl, beat together brown sugar, honey, molasses, and a whole egg until smooth using an electric mixer. Set aside.

Step 2: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and baking soda. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring to form a sticky dough.

Step 3: Stir in the slivered almonds and chopped candied fruit peel. Once combined, cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator overnight.

Step 4: Preheat the oven to 400F (200C). Grease or line your baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 5: Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about inch thickness. Use a knife or cookie cutter to cut the dough into rectangles about 2x3 inches in size.

Step 6: Place the dough rectangles on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1 inches between each cookie.

Step 7: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until they are lightly browned around the edges.

Step 8: While the cookies are baking, prepare the glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg white, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Gradually mix in the confectioners' sugar until smooth.

Step 9: When the cookies are done baking, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool for a few minutes. While they are still warm, use a pastry brush to apply the lemon glaze to the top of each cookie.

Step 10: Transfer the glazed cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, store the cookies in an airtight to keep them fresh.

How to Store Lebkuchen

Once your lebkuchen cookies have cooled, place them in a shallow, airtight . Store at room temperature for up to one to two weeks for the best flavor and texture.

Can You Freeze Lebkuchen?

Yes! You can freeze lebkuchen cookies. To do so, first flash freeze the cookies by placing them on a baking sheet and freezing for a few hours or overnight. Once frozen, transfer the cookies to a freezer-safe or zip-top freezer bag. You can store them in the freezer for up to six months.

Nutritional Information

Each serving of this recipe (36 servings total) contains:

Calories: 120
Total Fat: 1g (1% of daily value)
Saturated Fat: 0g (1% of daily value)
Cholesterol: 5mg (2% of daily value)
Sodium: 24mg (1% of daily value)
Total Carbohydrate: 27g (10% of daily value)
Dietary Fiber: 1g (2% of daily value)
Total Sugars: 15g
Protein: 2g (3% of daily value)
Calcium: 20mg (2% of daily value)
Iron: 1mg (4% of daily value)
Potassium: 101mg (2% of daily value)

Community Tips

"Wow, these are delicious," raves one reviewer. "I added raisins and dried currants, along with a little bit of cardamom. The spices made them perfect, and I loved the lemon glaze. They get better the longer they sit!"

Another reviewer mentions, "The dough was easy to work with but stayed chewy and smooth. I chilled the dough and made heart-shaped cookies, some with royal icing and others dipped in chocolate. They were a huge hit!"

German Lebkuchen Recipe

AI Audio version of the recipe is available!

You can listen to this recipe in AI audio format. Simply click the play button below to listen to the content in a format that suits you best. It’s a great way to absorb information on the go!

FAQ about German Lebkuchen Recipe

Store the cooled Lebkuchen cookies in a shallow, airtight container at room temperature. They will stay fresh for one to two weeks. To prevent the cookies from sticking, you can separate layers with wax paper or parchment paper.

Yes, you can freeze Lebkuchen cookies! Flash freeze them by placing them on a baking sheet for a few hours or overnight, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container or zip-top freezer bags. They can be stored in the freezer for up to six months.

If the dough is too sticky to handle, try chilling it in the fridge for a few hours or overnight. You can also grease your hands or use a spoon to scoop the dough into balls before flattening them. Some people prefer to roll the dough into a log and slice it for a cleaner shape.

The cookies are done when they are lightly browned around the edges. Depending on your oven, baking them for about 10-12 minutes at 400°F (200°C) should work, but check the cookies at the 10-minute mark. They should be firm to the touch.

Yes! You can replace the lemon glaze with a chocolate glaze or royal icing. Some people also use powdered sugar or a mix of sugar and water to make a simpler glaze.

Lebkuchen dough tends to be very sticky, which is a characteristic of this traditional recipe. If you're struggling with rolling it out, try chilling the dough for a few hours or even overnight. You can also grease the surface or use parchment paper to make rolling easier.

Yes, if you can't find candied mixed fruit peel, you can substitute it with chopped dried fruit like apricots, raisins, or even dates. These can add a nice fruity sweetness to the cookies, but make sure to chop them finely.

Allow the cookies to cool for a few minutes after baking so they are no longer too hot. If the cookies are still warm, the glaze may slide off, so it's best to let them cool to room temperature before applying the glaze.

The flavors in Lebkuchen improve with time. It's recommended to let them sit for at least 24 hours after baking before eating to allow the spices and sweetness to fully develop. Some people even say they taste better after a few days!

Yes, you can use other nuts such as walnuts, hazelnuts, or pecans if you prefer. Just make sure to chop them into small pieces to ensure an even texture in the dough.

Comments

Ronald Roberts

07/25/2023 08:34:55 AM

These lebkuchen cookies are delightfully chewy and perfectly spiced, making them a delightful Christmas treat! The dough can become sticky when cutting out shapes, so I found it helpful to use a pizza cutter to easily cut out rectangle shapes without overhandling the dough. Additionally, using a round cookie cutter allowed me to create some delicious circular cookies as well.

Dennis Harris

03/16/2023 10:20:06 PM

Delicious, delicious! This dough is not meant for intricate shapes. It's crucial to chill it for a few hours before rolling it out. Personally, I like to press the dough into a floured jelly roll pan (ungreased) and cut it into bars after baking. I then glaze or frost them before removing the bars from the pan. Remember to store them in a container with layers separated by wax or parchment paper.

Susan Parker

09/23/2022 01:14:51 PM

Wonderful recipe! You can choose between powdered sugar or chocolate for the glaze.

Jeffrey Diaz

08/18/2023 07:24:46 AM

I am incredibly grateful for this fantastic recipe that turned out to be both reliable and delicious. I had never attempted to make this particular type of gingerbread before, and a previous recipe I tried was a total disaster. This dough was easy to work with and resulted in cookies that were wonderfully chewy and smooth. After chilling the dough, I made traditional heart-shaped cutouts, decorating half with royal icing and the other half with dipped chocolate. They were a massive hit with everyone who tried them. I cannot express my appreciation enough!

audio version

Cook Time: 45 minutes

German Lebkuchen Recipe

Ingredients

Instructions

How to Store Lebkuchen

Can You Freeze Lebkuchen?

Nutritional Information

Community Tips

FAQ about German Lebkuchen Recipe