4.9 from 207 votes
Lebkuchen (German Spice Cookies)
These German Spice cookies known as Lebkuchen are made from scratch and absolutely delicious! Glazed German gingerbread is a Holiday favorite and always the first thing to go on a Christmas cookie tray.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Rest time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 22 mins
Servings: 30 Cookies
Calories: 126 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
German
Ingredients
Ingredients
- ½ cup honey
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- ¼ cup unsalted butter cut into cubes
- 1 large egg beaten
- 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 fine sea salt
- ½ tsp ground allspice
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ tsp grated nutmeg
Glaze Ingredients
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 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.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- To cover the Lebkuchen in chocolate, melt 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips in the microwave according to package directions. Stir gently until the chocolate chips have melted completely. Dip the cookies into the melted chocolate and leave to dry on a wire rack before storing.
Nutrition Information
Calories
126kcal
(6%)
Carbohydrates
23g
(8%)
Protein
2g
(4%)
Fat
4g
(6%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.1g
Monounsaturated Fat
0.5g
Trans Fat
0.1g
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%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 30Cookies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 126
% 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.