Lebkuchen is a German holiday tradition. These cookies are like a soft gingerbread, with a wonderfully spicy flavor and a touch of honey. Though my Grandmother was Polish, not German, she sent us lebkuchen in a wonderfully decorated tin every year. Some of these tins have become collector’s items, though you can be sure that the cookies themselves never lasted long!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 3/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice
- 1 tsp. grated lemon zest
- 2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. cloves
- 1 tsp. allspice
- 1 tsp. nutmeg
- 1/3 cup cut-up citron
- 1/3 cup chopped nuts
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and spices together.
- In a saucepan, mix honey and molasses. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and cool thoroughly.
- Slowly stir in sugar, egg, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
- Blend dry ingredients and liquid ingredients together.
- Slowly mix in citron and nuts.
- Chill dough overnight.
- When ready to bake, heat oven to 400.
- Work with only a small amount of dough at a time, keeping the rest chilled until ready to use.
- Roll dough out approximately 1/4″ thick on a lightly floured surface.
- Cut into oblongs, approximately 2 1/2″ by 1 1/2″ in size.
- Place onto a greased cookie sheet about 1″ apart.
- Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until no imprint remains when touched lightly.
- Brush cookies with glazing icing (see below) immediately (while still warm).
- Quickly remove from cookie sheet.
- Cool cookies thoroughly on a rack.
- Store cookies in an airtight container with a cut orange or apple for a couple days to allow flavor to mellow.
Glazing Icing
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup confectioner’s sugar
- Blend sugar and water together in small saucepan.
- Boil until first indication of thread appears (approximately 230 degrees on candy thermometer).
- Remove from heat.
- Stir in confectioner’s sugar.
- Brush lightly onto cookies.
Makes 6 dozen cookies
Note: If icing becomes hard or grainy while brushing onto cookies, simply reheat for a few seconds.
