Lebkuchen II

This Lebkuchen recipe helps deliver a traditional German Christmas spice cookie to your holiday baking collection.

• Calories: 155 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 1 ½ cups white sugar
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 ¼ cups packed brown sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 3 cups honey
• 8 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground allspice
• 1 cup chopped candied citron
• 2 cups sliced almonds
• ¾ cup water
• ⅓ cup sifted confectioners' sugar

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Step 2

Bring honey to a boil in a large Dutch oven; remove from heat, and cool slightly. Stir in brown sugar, beaten eggs, lemon rind, and juice.

Step 3

Combine flour, baking soda, and spices in a large mixing bowl; gradually add to honey mixture, stirring well. Stir in citron and chopped pecans, blending well. Cover and chill overnight.

Step 4

Shape dough into 1-inch balls; place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheets. Gently press ball to 1/4-inch thickness with bottom of a glass dipped in cool water. Gently press an almond slice in the center of each cookie. Bake for about 10 minutes. Remove cookie sheets from oven. Brush glaze over cookies and remove to wire racks to cool.

Step 5

To Make Glaze: Combine 1 1/2 cups sugar and water in a small heavy saucepan; cook over low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Cook over high heat, without stirring, until mixture reaches thread stage (230 degrees F ). Remove from heat; stir in confectioners' sugar, mixing well. Place over low heat, if necessary, to maintain basting consistency.