German Christmas Cookies: Lebkuchen
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5.0
15 reviews
Excellent
German Christmas Cookies: Lebkuchen
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German Christmas Cookies, also called Lebkuchen or German gingerbread cookies, are an authentic German cookie that is spicy, soft and incredibly flavorful. You can give them as gifts to your family and friends! Easy to make with aromatic lebkuchen spice mix.
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Ingredients
For the Lebkuchen spice mix:
- 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon ground lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon ground orange zest
- 1/2 teaspoon ground anise
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground fennel seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 10 cloves ground
For the Lebkuchen:
- 5 oz or 159 g (7 tablespoons) honey
- 1/4 cup or 150 grams sugar
- 1/4 cup or 50 grams butter
- zest of 1/2 lemon
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 tablespoon Lebkuchen spice mix
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 cup or 250 grams all-purpose flour you might need more or less than that to form the dough
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Instructions
- First, you need to combine all ingredients for the spice mix or if you are using a store-bought lebkuchen spice, you can skip this step.In a saucepan, combine honey, sugar and butter and cook on medium heat until the sugar has completely dissolved, stirring constantly. Let cool to room temperature. Add 1 egg, lemon zest and Lebkuchen spice mix. Add baking soda, baking powder and flour and knead into a firm dough. Wrap the dough in plastic foil and let it rest for at least 1 hour 30 minutes in the fridge.
- Preheat the oven to 180 °C or 355 ºF. Knead the dough again. Roll thick on floured surface (4-5 mm or 1.5-2 inches). Cut the dough with cookie cutters of your choice.
- Place on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden. Increase the baking time if you like harder cookies. Immediately remove from the baking tray. Let cool and decorate with glaze or leave plain. Enjoy!
Equipments used:
Notes
- These German Christmas Cookies or Lebkuchen are spicy, soft and incredibly flavorful. This recipe doesn't require long waiting times, but still results in the most amazing spiced cookies that are crunchy from the outside and soft from the inside.
- They make a perfect holiday snack and a nice homemade Christmas gift.
- If you plan to make a gingerbread house, Lebkuchen would fit well. You need to roll the dough thinner, so that it is harder when baked.
- Feel free to decorate your Lebkuchen as you wish. I left them plain and they are still beautiful in their simplicity. You can use this simple lemon cookie glaze if you wish.
- Feel free to experiment with shapes. I made stars, hearts, reindeers and donkeys.
- This recipe makes about 20-25 medium-sized cookies. The exact amount depends on the size of your cookie cutter.
- Serve German Christmas cookies with a cup of tea or coffee, a steaming glass of Glühwein (mulled wine), fruit punch, hot chocolate, or a Cranberry Moscow Mule. They can be a great decoration to these 15-minute pomegranate parfaits.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container with a slice of apple inside, to keep them from drying. When the apple gets brown, replace it. You can store the Lebkuchen for up to two weeks on the counter.
- You can freeze them in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
- To make this recipe vegan, replace egg with 1 tablespoon flax meal whisked together with 3 tablespoons of water. Let it sit for about 10 minutes until thickened.
- Replace regular butter with vegan butter.
- Replace honey with maple syrup for extra flavor. That will also help you to turn this recipe into vegan.
- You can use a gluten-free flour blend instead of regular flour for this recipe.
- Use any kind of sugar you like: brown sugar, Demerara sugar, coconut sugar, or regular white sugar.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
352kcal
(18%)
Carbohydrates
65g
(22%)
Protein
7g
(14%)
Fat
7g
(11%)
Saturated Fat
4g
(20%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
2g
Trans Fat
0.2g
Cholesterol
36mg
(12%)
Sodium
195mg
(8%)
Potassium
142mg
(4%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
18g
(36%)
Vitamin A
221IU
(4%)
Vitamin C
1mg
(1%)
Calcium
52mg
(5%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 352 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 352kcal | 18% |
| Carbohydrates | 65g | 22% |
| Protein | 7g | 14% |
| Fat | 7g | 11% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Trans Fat | 0.2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 36mg | 12% |
| Sodium | 195mg | 8% |
| Potassium | 142mg | 3% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 18g | 36% |
| Vitamin A | 221IU | 4% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 52mg | 5% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
15 reviews
Excellent
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