Lebkuchen (German Spice Cookies)
User Reviews
4.9
Lebkuchen (German Spice Cookies)
Description
Lebkuchen dough begins by warming honey and sugar to dissolve sweetness evenly. Butter and lemon zest are incorporated for richness and brightness before folding in baking powder, soda, salt, and a complex spice mixture. Beaten egg, flour, and ground almonds combine to form a soft dough that’s rested covered for at least an hour or overnight to develop flavor and texture.
After resting, the dough is divided and rolled out onto a silicone mat to just under 1 inch thickness, then cut and baked. The glaze, a mix of powdered sugar, lemon juice, vanilla, and optionally rum, is brushed on or drizzled for a shiny, citrus-sweet finish that complements the warm spices. These cookies often have a tender crumb with a spice-infused aroma perfect for holiday treats.
For an extra touch, Lebkuchen can be dipped in melted dark chocolate after glazing and left to set on a rack, adding a rich contrast to the spicy sweetness.
Ingredients
Ingredients
- ½ cup honey
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- ¼ cup butter cut into cubes, unsalted
- 1 egg beaten, large
- 2 tsp lemon zest
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup ground almonds
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp salt fine sea salt
- ½ tsp ground allspice
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp cloves ground
- ¼ tsp nutmeg grated
Glaze Ingredients
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- lemon juice of 1
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp rum optional
Instructions
- In a glass bowl, mix the honey and sugar and heat in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir together well until sugar dissolves (heat another 15-30 seconds if needed).
- Immediately add the butter and lemon zest and stir until the butter melts.
- Stir in the baking powder, soda, salt and spices and egg.
- Add the flour and ground almonds. Mix until you have a soft and slightly sticky dough, adding a little lemon juice as needed. Be careful not to add too much because you will be rolling the dough, just enough to where it's not dry.
- Spray your hands with cooking spray and gather the dough into a ball.
- Cover the mixing bowl with a towel and leave to rest for at least an hour or even overnight at room temperature.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile prepare the glaze.
- Mix together all the glaze ingredients in a small bowl until you have a thin glaze.
- Divide the dough into thirds. Roll the dough on a silicone baking mat to 3/4 of an inch thickness to right under 1 inch.
- Cut out circles using a cookie cutter.
- Space the cookies out on the silicone mat and bake for 12 minutes.
- Repeat with remaining dough, gathering up any scraps and rolling out again and bake in batches.
- Transfer the cookies carefully to a wire rack and brush with the glaze while they are still a little warm using a pastry brush.
- Allow the glaze to dry and add a second layer (if desired). Check the recipe notes if you want to cover or dip the Lebkuchen in chocolate.
Notes
- To coat Lebkuchen in chocolate, melt dark chocolate chips and dip cookies, allowing them to dry on a wire rack before storing.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 30Cookies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 126 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 126kcal | 6% |
| Carbohydrates | 23g | 8% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 4g | 6% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.1g | 1% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 0.5g | 3% |
| Trans Fat | 0.1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 10mg | 3% |
| Sodium | 62mg | 3% |
| Potassium | 39mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 16g | 32% |
| Vitamin A | 56IU | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 0.4mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 24mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
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