German Lebkuchen

Lebkuchen are traditional German Christmas ginger cookies sweetened with honey and studded with almonds and candied fruit. They are finished with a simple lemon glaze. You can coat them with melted chocolate if you prefer.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 30 mins
• Calories: 120 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 1 ¼ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ½ cup honey
• ½ teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 ½ cups sifted confectioners' sugar
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup dark molasses
• 1 egg white, beaten
• ½ cup slivered almonds
• 1 ¼ teaspoons ground nutmeg
• ½ cup candied mixed fruit peel, finely chopped

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Beat brown sugar, honey, and egg in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth; stir in molasses. Combine flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and baking soda in a separate bowl; stir into the molasses mixture to form a sticky dough. Stir in almonds and candied fruit peel. Cover dough and chill overnight.

Step 2

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease or line cookie sheets.

Step 3

Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of 1/4 inch. Cut into 2x3-inch rectangles. Place cookies 1 1/2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets.

Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned, about 10 to 12 minutes.

Step 5

While the cookies are baking, make the glaze: Stir egg white, lemon juice, and lemon zest together in a small bowl. Mix in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Brush glaze over cookies while they are still warm.

Step 6

Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool and set completely before storing in a single layer in airtight containers.