Monika's Oma's Lebkuchen Men

This German Christmas cookie recipe comes from my college's much-loved German language resident. She hung them up on the walls as Christmas decorations, and we used to sneak them off to eat during class. For the best flavor, put them aside in a tin for a few weeks before eating them.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 15 mins
• Total Time: 35 mins
• Calories: 160 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 ½ cups confectioners' sugar
• ¼ cup honey
• 2 cups ground almonds
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons cocoa powder
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 6 ½ tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons boiling water, or as needed

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two baking sheets.

Step 2

Mix ground almonds, flour, white sugar, 2 teaspoons cocoa powder, cinnamon, cloves, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. Use your fingers or a pastry blender to rub in the butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Add honey and egg; mix together to form a dough.

Step 3

Dust work surface with flour. Roll out dough into a circle about 1/8-inch thick. Cut into gingerbread men shapes with a floured cookie cutter. Place 2 inches apart on baking sheets.

Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven until edges are brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool in the pan 1 to 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely, about 20 minutes.

Step 5

Combine confectioners' sugar and 2 tablespoons cocoa powder in a bowl. Mix in enough boiling water to make a smooth and spreadable icing. Spread icing on cooled cookies using a table knife. Set aside until icing hardens, about 2 hours.