Best 7 Lebkuchen Iii Recipes

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Lebkuchen is a traditional German Christmas cookie that dates back to the 13th century. It is a soft, chewy cookie flavored with honey, spices, and nuts. Lebkuchen can be made in a variety of shapes and sizes, and is often decorated with icing, sprinkles, or nuts.

This article provides three recipes for Lebkuchen: a classic recipe, a gluten-free recipe, and a vegan recipe. The classic recipe is made with all-purpose flour, honey, butter, eggs, spices, and nuts. The gluten-free recipe uses almond flour instead of all-purpose flour, and the vegan recipe uses plant-based butter and eggs. All three recipes are easy to follow and can be made in about an hour.

Whether you are looking for a traditional German Christmas cookie or a delicious treat to enjoy all year round, Lebkuchen is a perfect choice. With its soft, chewy texture and flavorful spices, it is sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

EASY GERMAN LEBKUCHEN RECIPE



Easy German Lebkuchen Recipe image

These soft Lebkuchen Cookies are a classic German favorite!

Provided by Cate, International Desserts Blog

Time P1DT50m

Number Of Ingredients 26

2 TBSP cinnamon
3/4 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp cardamom
1/2 tsp anise
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 nutmeg (or mace)
8 TBSP zest (5-7 lemons and 5-7 oranges)
1 cup 198g sugar
3/4 cup 170ml water
1 1/2 cups 213g whole almonds
1 1/2 cups 213g whole hazelnuts
1/2 cup (100g) brown sugar (lightly packed)
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 cup 60g candied zest
2 TBSP Lebkuchen Spice Mix
1/8 cup honey
2 eggs
4 TBSP powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
a few drops of Rum extract (optional)
1.5-2oz 35-60g dark chocolate
1/4 tsp oil
15 Back Oblaten
Almonds for decorating top of cookies (whole blanched, slivered or sliced)

Steps:

  • Combine the ground spices in a small bowl or jar.
  • Cover and set aside.
  • This recipe makes a little more spice mix than you need for these cookies. Feel free to add more spice mix to the cookies if you'd like a stronger flavor.
  • Wash oranges and lemons.
  • Zest the citrus using a microplane.
  • Heat water and sugar in a small saucepan over medium high heat.
  • Add zest and stir.
  • Bring to a low boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
  • Strain out the liquid and let the candied zest cool in a small bowl.
  • Cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge until you're ready to use it.
  • This recipe will likely make a little more candied zest than you need for these cookies. Feel free to add more if you'd like a stronger flavor.
  • Use a food processor to grind the almonds and hazelnuts until they're like crumbs. (But be careful that you don't grind so long that they turn into nut butter! It's ok if you have some larger nut chunks.They don't all have to be the same size.) Set ground nuts aside.
  • Add the brown sugar, Lebkuchen Spice Mix, baking powder, and salt to a mixing bowl (or the food processor or the bowl of a stand mixer). Mix with a whisk or spoon until combined
  • Add the candied zest and mix again.
  • Add the nuts and mix.
  • Add the spice mix and stir.
  • And then add the honey and mix again.
  • Whisk the eggs in a small bowl, then add the eggs to the dough and mix again.
  • The dough should be pretty thick at this point.
  • At this stage you can cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it chill in the fridge for 12 to 24 hours. Or you bake your cookies right away.
  • When you're ready to bake your cookies, pre-head your oven to 325F/160C.
  • Place the Oblaten wafers on a lined baking tray (if using).
  • If using the 70mm size, spoon 2 tablespoons dough onto the middle of each wafer. If your dough immediately flattens out and spills out over the wafer, add more ground nuts (try grinding another 1/4 to 1/2 cup).
  • Ideally you want the baked cookies to cover the entire wafer while keeping a domed shape. You can use lightly damp fingers to gently spread the dough towards the edge of the Oblaten. I just barely spread the dough towards the edges.
  • For the cookies you want to eat plain (no glaze), you can press almonds into the dough at this stage. I totally forgot to do that so my plain cookies are very plain (still tasty, though)!
  • Bake the cookies for 20-22 minutes or until the edges are browned. Let the cookies cool on a wire rack.
  • Add powdered sugar, water, vanilla extract, and rum extract (optional) to a small bowl and mix until there are no lumps. Adjust powdered sugar and water as needed. The sugar glaze in the recipe below should be enough to glaze half of the cookies, so double it if you want to use it for all of the cookies.
  • Chop the dark chocolate and add a bit of oil (vegetable, coconut, etc). Slowly melt the chocolate in the microwave on 15-20 second intervals or in a double boiler on stove (or place a glass bowl over a saucepan that has simmering water it in). Stir frequently. When 3/4 of the chocolate has melted, simply keep stirring to melt the rest. If you want all of your cookies to have a chocolate glaze, double the recipe.
  • Use a pastry brush to apply the sugar or chocolate glaze to the top of the cookies. You can also dip the cookies in the glaze (I found it easiest to use the pastry brush).
  • Add almonds (whole blanched, slivered or sliced) to decorate the top of the cookies before glaze sets.
  • Let the glaze dry on the cookies for 12-24 hours. Store in an airtight container with wax paper between layers of cookies. They'll keep for at least a couple weeks, longer in the freezer.

AUTHENTIC GERMAN LEBKUCHEN



Authentic German Lebkuchen image

This recipe is over 150 years old and has been baked by my family for many generations for Christmas. They are much easier to make than other lebkuchen and ingredients have been updated to what's available now. They are made with almond flour, hence are gluten free and also contain no dairy.

Provided by Ruth

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     German

Time 1h10m

Yield 25

Number Of Ingredients 10

25 backoblaten (German baking wafers)
2 cups blanched almond flour
1 ¼ cups white sugar
3 eggs
½ cup ground hazelnuts
7 tablespoons finely chopped candied lemon and orange peel
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla sugar
1 pinch ground cloves
2 cups chopped dark chocolate

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange backoblaten (German baking wafers) on top, leaving a 1-inch space between them.
  • Combine almond flour, sugar, eggs, ground hazelnuts, candied lemon and orange peel, ground cinnamon, vanilla sugar, and ground cloves and mix into a firm dough.
  • Shape mixture into balls. Arrange balls on the prepared wafers; press gently to flatten into 1/2-inch-high rounds.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until light brown in color, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
  • Place chocolate in top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes. Cover the top of each lebkuchen with chocolate.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 211.4 calories, Carbohydrate 24.8 g, Cholesterol 23 mg, Fat 11.7 g, Fiber 2.4 g, Protein 4.1 g, SaturatedFat 1.4 g, Sodium 9.3 mg, Sugar 17.1 g

LEBKUCHEN (GERMAN HONEY BARS)



Lebkuchen (German Honey Bars) image

Lebkuchen recipes are many and diverse-some are flourless, made with almond and hazelnut meal; some are made in bar form and others in cookie form; some are glazed with chocolate and others with a thin lemon glaze. We like to age the dough for up to two months before baking to allow the flavors to develop (the sugar and honey keep the egg from spoiling). After baking, these resilient cookies can be stored in an airtight container for at least a month more.

Provided by Megan Scott

Categories     Cookies     Christmas     cookbooks     Dessert     Fall     Winter     Honey     Almond     Lemon     Lemon Juice     Cinnamon     Clove     Cardamom     Anise     Nutmeg     Spice

Yield Makes 36 (2 1/4 x 1 1/2-inch) bars

Number Of Ingredients 27

Honey bars:
1 cup (320g) honey
2 tablespoons (30g) water
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick or 85g) unsalted butter, cut into cubes
¾ cup packed (175g) brown sugar
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon (15g) lemon juice
2 ½ cups sifted (300g) all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon grated or ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
¼ teaspoon ground anise
½ teaspoon salt
1/3 cup chopped blanched almonds
1/3 cup chopped citron
1/3 cup chopped candied orange peel
Citrus glaze:
1 ¼ cups powdered sugar, sifted
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons lemon juice
½ teaspoon vanilla
Decoration:
Candied cherries (optional)
Blanched almonds (optional)

Steps:

  • Honey bars:
  • Heat honey and water in a large heavy saucepan until runny. Remove from heat, and stir in butter until melted. Transfer mixture to a large bowl and stir in brown sugar, eggs, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, spices, and salt.
  • Add the flour mixture to the honey mixture and stir just until combined. Add almonds, citron, and candied orange peel. Stir until the dough is smooth. Cover the dough tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 24 hours or up to 1 month.
  • When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper so it extends over the 2 long sides.
  • Firmly press the dough into the prepared pan to form a smooth, even layer. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean, about 30 minutes.
  • Citrus glaze and decoration:
  • In a medium bowl, beat together powdered sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla until smooth. While the lebkuchen is still warm, spread glaze evenly over the top.
  • Mark into bars by cutting into the lebkuchen about ¼ inch deep with a knife. Decorate, if desired, by placing 1 candied cherry in the center of each bar. And arrange 4 blanched almonds around each cherry.
  • Let stand in the pan on a rack until completely cool and the icing is set. Using the overhanging parchment as handles, transfer to a cutting board. Cut into bars. If possible, let the cookies age for at least 2 weeks to allow the spices to ripen. Lebkuchen will keep for months in an airtight container.

LEBKUCHEN



Lebkuchen image

It's tradition for my family to make these German treats together. The recipe came from my great-grandmother's cookbook, and judging from the amount of requests I get, it has certainly stood the test of time. -Esther Kempker, Jefferson City, Missouri

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 50m

Yield 3 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 24

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 cup molasses
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon anise extract
4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon each ground allspice, cardamom and cloves
1/2 cup ground walnuts
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup pitted dates
1/2 cup candied lemon peel
1/3 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1/4 cup candied orange peel
3 tablespoons candied pineapple
GLAZE:
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 15x10x1-in. baking pan with parchment., In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in molasses, buttermilk and extract. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, allspice, cardamom and cloves; gradually add to creamed mixture and beat well. Stir in walnuts., Place raisins, dates, lemon peel, coconut, orange peel and pineapple in a food processor; pulse until chopped. Stir into batter; press into prepared pan. Bake 25-28 minutes or until lightly browned., For glaze, in a small saucepan, bring sugar and water to a boil; boil 1 minute. Remove from heat; whisk in confectioners' sugar. Spread over warm bars. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

Nutrition Facts :

LEBKUCHEN COOKIES



Lebkuchen Cookies image

Classic lebkuchen cookies with a lemon glaze. Prepared in advance, these traditional German Christmas cookies are gingerbread-like in flavor and have a soft and chewy texture. These cookies are a great festive treat for the holiday season! Recipe featured from Midwest Made from Shauna Sever.

Provided by Laura // A Beautiful Plate

Categories     Cookies and Bars

Time P5DT25m

Number Of Ingredients 19

¾ cup (250 g) clover honey
¾ cup (170 g) dark muscovado (or organic dark brown sugar)
4 tablespoons (57 g) unsalted butter (cut into chunks)
1 large egg (beaten)
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
3 cups (384 g) unbleached all-purpose flour (fluffed, spooned, and leveled, plus more for dusting)
¾ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon fine sea salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground allspice
½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
oil for the bowl
1 cup (120 g) confectioner's sugar (sifted)
1 large egg white
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt

Steps:

  • Prepare the Cookies: In a 1½ quart saucepan, combine the honey and muscovado sugar. Over medium-high heat, stir gently until the sugar begins to dissolve and the mixture just begins to come to a simmer. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the butter. Let cool until warm to touch. Whisk in the egg and lemon zest and juice.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, stir together the flour, baking soda, salt, and spices.
  • On low speed, stir in the wet ingredients until a smooth, sticky dough forms. Laura's Note: This will be slack and loose, don't worry! Scrape the dough into a lightly oiled ceramic bowl and cover with a plate - you want the dough to be able to breathe.
  • Allow the dough to "ripen" at cool room temperature for 1 to 2 days - do not refrigerate. (The large amount of honey and sugar will keep bacteria at bay.)
  • Position racks to the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat it to 350°F (180°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Turn out the dough onto a well-floured work surface. Roll it out to a ¼-inch/6 mm thickness. Use a bench scraper or thin spatula to get under the dough and scoot it around in the flour occasionaly to prevent sticking. Cut shapes with 2-inch/5 cm cutters and place 1 inch/2½ cm apart on the prepared baking sheets. Sweep away any excess flour with a pastry brush.
  • Bake until fragrant and lightly browned, about 12 minutes, rotating the baking sheets from top to bottom and front to back halfway through the baking time. (Watch closely, as honey in the dough can make the edges catch and burn quickly.)
  • Prepare the Glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together the confectioner's sugar, egg white, lemon juice, and salt for a smooth, thin, runny glaze. (Add a few drops of lemon juice, as needed, to achieve this consistency).
  • Let the cookies firm up and cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes. Run an offset spatula under the cookies to gently looesn them from the parchment paper, leaving them on the sheets.
  • While still warm, brush the cookies with glaze and transfer to wire racks. Allow the cookies to cool and the glaze to dry completely.
  • The secret to a perfect lebkuchen texture is in the resting phase: place the cookies into airtight containers in layers, seperated by parchment or wax paper. Tuck a wedge of apple in the container before sealing. Store in a cool place for at least 3 days, or up to 2 weeks, to allow the cookies to ripen once more before serving.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 serving, Calories 125 kcal, Carbohydrate 7 g, Protein 1 g, Fat 11 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Cholesterol 10 mg, Sodium 58 mg, Sugar 8 g, UnsaturatedFat 9 g

AUTHENTIC GERMAN LEBKUCHEN (NüRNBERGER ELISENLEBKUCHEN)



Authentic German Lebkuchen (Nürnberger Elisenlebkuchen) image

One of Germany's most popular and beloved Christmas confections, get ready to fall in love with these delicious and traditional German Lebkuchen!

Provided by Kimberly Killebrew

Categories     Dessert

Time 45m

Number Of Ingredients 25

5 large eggs
1 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon quality pure vanilla extract
2 cups almond meal
2 cups hazelnut meal
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3 teaspoons Lebkuchengewürz
Homemade Lebkuchengewürz (, (STRONGLY recommended), click link for recipe)
4 ounces candied lemon peel
4 ounces candied orange peel
1/4 cup all-purpose flour (to coat the candied peel) ((can substitute gluten free))
Homemade Lemon and Orange Peel (, click link (STRONGLY recommended instead of store-bought!))
Backoblaten (either 70mm or 90mm)
white communion wafers ((these can be substituted for Backoblaten))
Blanched whole almonds cut in half lengthwise
For the Chocolate Glaze:
3 ounces quality dark or milk chocolate
2 teaspoons coconut oil (or oil of choice - do not use butter)
Directions: Place chocolate and oil in a small bowl and microwave
For the Sugar Glaze:
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
3 tablespoons water or milk
Directions: Place sugar and water in a small bowl and stir until smooth.

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
  • Toss the candied lemon and orange peel with about 1/4 cup all-purpose flour to keep it from sticking together and then pulse in a food processor until finely minced. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs until foamy. Add the sugar, honey and vanilla extract and beat until combined.
  • Add the ground almonds and hazelnuts, salt, baking powder, Lebkuchengewürz, and candied lemon and orange peels and stir vigorously until thoroughly combined. (You can use a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat for about 2 minutes). The mixture will be wet but if it is too thin to scoop onto the oblaten add some more almond or hazelnut meal.
  • Scoop the mixture onto the Backoblaten, smoothing down the top and leaving just a slight space around the edges. Set them on a lined cookie sheet.
  • Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 25-30 minutes. Remove the cookie sheet and allow to cool completely.
  • Once cooled, place a wire rack over a cookie sheet (to catch the drippings). Dip half the Lebkuchen in the chocolate glaze and half in the sugar glaze, letting the excess drip back into the bowl and then place the Lebkuchen on the wire rack. Arrange 3 almonds on each Lebkuchen while the glaze is still wet. Let the Lebkuchen dry completely until the glaze is hardened.
  • Keep stored in an airtight container. Will keep for several weeks and the flavor improves with time.
  • Makes about 35 if using 70mm Backoblaten and about 25 if using 90mm Backoblaten.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 elisenlebkuchen, Calories 175 kcal, Carbohydrate 22 g, Protein 3 g, Fat 9 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Cholesterol 23 mg, Sodium 34 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 19 g

LEBKUCHEN



Lebkuchen image

Coming from a German background, Christmas has always meant Lebkuchen in my father's family. Having failed to get my aunt's recipe, I found this recipe from a friend in Germany, and made them last year for another friend who had spent his childhood in Germany. They brought tears to his eyes! They taste best when allowed to mellow for a while, so I make them as soon as I can after Thanksgiving. Prep time does not include chilling the dough overnight.

Provided by Lizzymommy

Categories     Dessert

Time 30m

Yield 72 cookies

Number Of Ingredients 17

1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup molasses
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/3 cup diced candied citron peel
1/3 cup chopped hazelnuts
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar

Steps:

  • In a medium saucepan, stir together the honey and molasses. Bring the mixture to a boil, remove from heat and stir in the brown sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and lastly the egg.
  • In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, allspice and nutmeg. Add the molasses mixture to the dry ingredients and mix well. Stir in the citron and hazelnuts. Cover dough and chill overnight.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets. Using a small amount of dough at a time, roll out on a lightly floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into small rectangles and place them 1 inch apart onto the prepared cookie sheet.
  • Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until no imprint remains when touched lightly.
  • Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan. Heat to between 234 and 240 degrees F (soft ball stage). Remove from heat and stir in the confectioners' sugar.
  • Quickly brush the icing over the cookies while they are still hot (Important!) and remove them to wire cooling racks. If icing becomes sugary while brushing cookies, re-heat slightly- adding a little water until crystals dissolve.
  • Store in an airtight container with a cup of orange or apple for a few days to mellow. (I never did understand that part of the instructions, and my friend had no clarification - but I take it to mean store with a cut-up apple or orange - maybe a small cup of juice? I don't know - I just stored the cookies in an airtight container by themselves!).

Nutrition Facts : Calories 57.8, Fat 0.5, SaturatedFat 0.1, Cholesterol 2.9, Sodium 11.8, Carbohydrate 13, Fiber 0.2, Sugar 8.7, Protein 0.7

Tips:

  • Use fresh ingredients. The fresher your ingredients, the better your lebkuchen will taste. If possible, use organic ingredients whenever possible.
  • Follow the recipe carefully. Lebkuchen is a delicate pastry, and it's important to follow the recipe carefully in order to achieve the best results.
  • Don't overmix the dough. Overmixing the dough will make the lebkuchen tough. Mix it just until the ingredients are combined.
  • Let the dough rest. After you've mixed the dough, let it rest for at least 30 minutes before rolling it out. This will help the dough to develop its flavor.
  • Bake the lebkuchen at a low temperature. Lebkuchen is a delicate pastry, and it's important to bake it at a low temperature in order to prevent it from burning.
  • Let the lebkuchen cool completely before icing it. This will help to prevent the icing from melting.

Conclusion:

Lebkuchen is a delicious and festive pastry that's perfect for the holiday season. With a little planning and effort, you can easily make your own lebkuchen at home. So what are you waiting for? Get baking!

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