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lebkuchen (german xmas honey cakes)

cyrene avatar
Recipe by
Linda Kauppinen
@cyrene
Greenwood, FL

These little gems come from the Black Forest Bavarian Region of Germany. My grandmother used to make these cookies special for the adults and serve them with coffee. They are more a dunking cookie with a nice mellow honey and spice flavor. My Christmas cookie baking is never complete without making a batch! Note: Prep time includes chilling the dough over night.

►
yield serving(s)
cook time 12 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For lebkuchen (german xmas honey cakes)

  • THE COOKIE
  • 1/2 c
    honey
  • 1/2 c
    molasses
  • 3/4 c
    brown sugar (packed)
  • 1 lg
    egg
  • 1 Tbsp
    lemon juice
  • 1 tsp
    lemon zest, grated
  • 2 3/4 c
    flour (sifted)
  • 1/2 tsp
    baking soda
  • 1 tsp
    cinnamon, ground
  • 1 tsp
    cloves, ground
  • 1 tsp
    allspice, ground
  • 1 tsp
    nutmeg, ground
  • 1/3 c
    chopped nuts
  • 1/3 c
    citron, cut up (optional)
  • GLAZING ICING INGREDIENTS
  • 1 c
    sugar
  • 1/2 c
    water
  • 1/4 c
    confectioners' sugar

How To Make lebkuchen (german xmas honey cakes)

  • 1
    in a small pan Mix honey and molasses and bring to a boil. Once to a boil, take off heat and cool thoroughly.
  • 2
    Once cooled, stir in brown sugar, egg, lemon juice and lemon zest. Mix well.
  • 3
    sift together and stir in flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, allspice and nutmeg mixing well.
  • 4
    Mix in chopped nuts and if you want to add the cut up citron do this now. I prefer not to use the citron.
  • 5
    Form dough into a ball, wrap well with plastic wrap and chill overnight.
  • 6
    You are going to work the dough a little at a time as you want to keep remainder chilled while you are working a portion. lightly flour your surface and using a small amount about baseball size (be sure to put rest of your dough back in fridge), roll out 1/4 inch thick and cut into oblong 1 1/2 x 2 1/2 inch pieces.
  • 7
    Bakers Tip... While cookies bake make your glazing icing
  • 8
    Place 1 inch apart on a greased baking sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until when touched lightly, no imprint remains.
  • 9
    While cookies are baking you will want to make your glazing icing. Boil together sugar and water to 230 degees. The liquid should look almost like a thread when drizzled. Remove from heat. Stir in confectioners sugar. (when icing gets sugary, reheat slightly, adding a little water until clear again.)
  • 10
    Brush hot icing thinly over cookies the minute they are out of the oven. Then quickly remove from baking sheet. Cool and store to mellow
  • 11
    Bakers Tip: How to "Mellow" cookies... store in air tight container for a few days. Add a few apple slices, changing it 2x a day to insure freshness
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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