These Traditional German Lebkuchen cookies are the epitome of festive baking. With their warm spices, rich honey flavor, and sweet citrus zest, they make the perfect holiday treat. The soft texture of the cookies combined with a delicate glaze brings a wonderful balance of sweetness and spice.
Whether you’re baking them to enjoy at home, gift to loved ones, or share at a holiday party, these cookies will surely impress with their traditional flavors and beautiful, festive presentation.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup ground almonds or hazelnuts
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1/2 cup candied orange peel, finely chopped (optional)
- 1/4 cup dark rum or orange juice (for soaking)
For the glaze:
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, ground almonds, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a separate large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and honey until smooth and fluffy.
- Beat in the egg, orange zest, lemon zest, and rum (or orange juice). Mix until combined.
- Gradually stir in the dry ingredients and mix until a dough forms. If the dough is too sticky, refrigerate it for 30 minutes to make it easier to handle.
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes such as hearts, stars, or gingerbread people.
- Place the cut-out cookies onto the prepared baking sheets and bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are golden.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.
- For the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, water, and lemon juice until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled cookies.
Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cooking Time: 8-10 minutes | Total Time: 30 minutes
Kcal: 130 kcal | Servings: 24 cookies
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