Description
Lebkuchen Cookies are traditional German spiced cookies perfect for the festive season. These soft, aromatic treats are flavored with a mix of warm spices, citrus zest, honey, and ground almonds, glazed for a delicate sweetness, and optionally decorated with sprinkles or almonds. Their rich, comforting flavor and chewy texture make them a holiday favorite, improving in taste when stored and shared.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Lebkuchen
- ½ cup (170 g) honey
- 1 cup (200 g) dark soft brown sugar (Muscovado sugar)
- ¼ cup (60 g) unsalted butter
- 1 tsp orange zest
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- ½ tsp ground allspice
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ tsp grated nutmeg
- ⅛ tsp white pepper (optional)
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 2 ½ cups (300 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (100 g) ground almonds (almond flour)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (use only if dough is a bit dry)
- 1 tsp vegetable oil (for the bowl)
For the Glaze
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar (icing sugar)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice or to taste (adjust as needed)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp rum (optional)
To Decorate (Optional)
- Sprinkles or sanding sugar
- Flaked almonds
To Store
- Orange peel strips
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: Measure the honey and dark soft brown sugar into a mixing bowl and heat in the microwave in 30-second bursts. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the sugar dissolves completely. Add the cubed unsalted butter and the orange zest, stirring until the butter has melted into the mixture. Stir in the baking powder, baking soda, fine sea salt, ground cinnamon, ground allspice, ground ginger, ground cloves, grated nutmeg, white pepper (if using), lemon zest, and the beaten egg until fully combined. Add the all-purpose flour and ground almonds, mixing until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms, adding lemon juice only if the dough feels too dry. Mist a spatula or your hands with vegetable oil and gather the dough into a ball. Cover the bowl with a towel and let the dough rest at room temperature for at least one hour or overnight for best flavor development.
- Bake the cookies: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Prepare the glaze by mixing powdered sugar, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and rum (if using) until you achieve a thin, runny consistency. Divide the rested dough into thirds. Roll each portion on a silicone baking mat to about 2cm thickness (just under an inch). Using round, star, or heart-shaped cookie cutters, cut out shapes and space them evenly on the silicone mat. Bake in the preheated oven for 12 minutes. Repeat with the remaining dough, gathering scraps to re-roll and bake in batches.
- Glaze the cookies: Once baked, carefully transfer cookies to a wire rack while still warm. Brush the warm cookies generously with the prepared glaze. Allow the glaze to dry completely before optionally applying a second layer. While the glaze is still wet, sprinkle sanding sugar, sprinkles, or flaked almonds on top for decoration, if desired.
- Store the cookies: Place the cooled cookies in a cake tin, using parchment paper sheets to separate layers so they don’t stick together. Add a few strips of orange peel inside the tin to enhance aroma and flavor. Lebkuchen cookies improve in taste over time, making them a perfect make-ahead festive treat or gift.
- Optional chocolate glaze: To coat the Lebkuchen in chocolate, melt half a cup (90 g) of dark chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl placed over a saucepan of simmering water, ensuring the bowl’s base does not touch the water. Once almost melted, remove from heat and stir in another half cup (90 g) of chocolate chips until completely smooth. Dip the cookies in the melted chocolate, then place them on a wire rack to dry completely before storing.
Notes
- For a chocolate glaze, melt dark chocolate chips using a double boiler method and dip cookies before drying on a wire rack.
- Resting the dough for at least an hour or overnight enhances the flavor and texture of the cookies.
- The glaze consistency can be adjusted by adding more lemon juice for a thinner glaze or more powdered sugar for a thicker finish.
- Sprinkles, sanding sugar, or flaked almonds add a festive touch and can be applied while glaze is still wet.
- Lebkuchen keeps well when stored in an airtight container with parchment paper and orange peel, making them ideal gifts or to prepare well in advance of celebrations.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie (approx. 20 g)
- Calories: 100
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 40 mg
- Fat: 4.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
