Old German-Polish Recipe for Lebkuchen (Christmas Cookies)

This is a family recipe that I received from my mother-in-law. They were German-Polish farmers in the early 1900s on the eastern Germany-Poland border. This is a chewy, honey-based Christmas cookie. Melt dark chocolate and apply a thin coat to the cookie (as an extra treat)!

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 15 mins
• Total Time: 35 mins
• Calories: 295 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter
• 1 ½ cups white sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 cup honey
• 2 eggs, beaten
• ½ cup water
• 6 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

Step 2

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in sugar and honey. Bring to a boil; let cool, about 10 minutes.

Step 3

Whisk flour, cinnamon, and cloves together in a bowl.

Step 4

Mix baking soda and water together in a bowl; stir into butter mixture. Mix in eggs. Add flour-spice mixture; stir until dough is combined. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate for 24 to 48 hours.

Step 5

Roll dough out; cut into cookies and place on a baking sheet.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven until edges are golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet for 1 minute; transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.