A Traditional German Recipe for Lebkuchen Christmas Cookies, made easy!
Leb kuchen is a traditional German cookie, much like a gingerbread,
or a gingersnap, but
with a tender and chewy texture! They're dense, sweet and chewy;
commonly copied as gourmet cookies under other names.
In a large saucepan, mix then honey and brown sugar over low to medium heat.
Add in the almonds, citron, orange and lemon zest, spices and
then the brandy.
I finely dice the citron in a chopper or food processor first.
Stir the baking soda into the mix well.
Next beat the eggs with a hand whisk or fork and then mix them
into the pot.
Gradually add in the flour. The dough will start to become
very sticky.
Scrape the dough onto a floured 3-foot-long board or plastic
wrap. Generously flour (dust) the dough. Then, using floured
hands, knead the dough several times to smooth it. Flatten the dough
into a 3/8-inch-thick square.
Using either a square cookie cutter or a long knife, cut out cookies into 2 inch squares
Wrap the dough in plastic and let it rest overnight in a cool room or fridge (40 F to 70 F)
Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment or lightly greased aluminum foil. Transfer the squares to the baking sheet, spacing them about an inch apart.
Mix the 1 cup of powdered sugars, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and
1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
Bake the cookies on the center oven rack for 8 to 10 minutese.
When done, the cookies will have formed a crust, but they should
still feel soft to the touch. (Tip: The cookies stay chewier if you
bake them less and put them in an airtight container while they're
still slightly warm. If your family prefers a crisper cookie, just
bake them a little longer and let them cool completely before you
store them.) Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool
While they are still quite warm, ice the cookies. When they've
cooled completely, dredge them once more. Makes about 18 to 24
cookies.
Get the
most recent version of
the Ball Blue Book
Get the
most recent version of
the Ball Blue Book