Lebkuchen

Delight in the warm, spiced flavors of traditional Lebkuchen, a beloved German holiday treat that's perfect for festive gatherings or cozy winter afternoons. These soft, aromatic cookies are crafted with a blend of all-purpose flour, ground almonds, and an array of warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Sweetened with honey and brown sugar, the dough is enriched with zesty hints of lemon and orange before being baked to perfection. What sets Lebkuchen apart is its irresistible finishing touch—a luscious coating of dark chocolate that balances the spiced sweetness beautifully. With just 25 minutes of prep time and a make-ahead option for enhanced flavor, these spiced German cookies are an ideal addition to your holiday baking repertoire. Store them in an airtight container to enjoy their rich texture and taste that only improves with time! Keywords: Lebkuchen recipe, German spiced cookies, holiday baking recipes, traditional Christmas cookies, chocolate-dipped cookies.

Nutriscore Rating: 52/100

Prep Time:25 mins

Cook Time:15 mins

Total Time:40 mins

Servings: 20

Ingredients

• 300 grams All-purpose flour
• 100 grams Ground almonds
• 1 teaspoon Baking powder
• 2 teaspoons Ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon Ground ginger
• 0.5 teaspoon Allspice
• 0.5 teaspoon Ground cloves
• 0.5 teaspoon Ground nutmeg
• 0.25 teaspoon Salt
• 250 grams Honey
• 100 grams Brown sugar
• 50 grams Unsalted butter
• 1 large Egg
• 1 teaspoon Lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon Orange zest
• 150 grams Dark chocolate

Directions

Step 1

In a large bowl, combine the flour, ground almonds, baking powder, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, allspice, ground cloves, ground nutmeg, and salt. Mix well and set aside.

Step 2

In a saucepan, combine the honey, brown sugar, and unsalted butter. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved and the butter has melted. Remove from heat and let the mixture cool slightly.

Step 3

Stir in the egg, followed by the lemon zest and orange zest to the honey mixture.

Step 4

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until a sticky dough forms. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight so the flavors can meld.

Step 5

Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 6

On a floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes and place them onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving some space between each cookie.

Step 7

Bake in the preheated oven for about 12-15 minutes until the edges are lightly browned.

Step 8

Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on a baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 9

Meanwhile, melt the dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth.

Step 10

Once the cookies are completely cooled, dip them into the melted chocolate or use a spoon to drizzle chocolate over the top of the cookies. Allow the chocolate to set.

Step 11

Store the lebkuchen in an airtight container for several weeks. They taste best after aging for a few days.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1029.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	4132.0

Total Fat 151.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 57.8g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.0g
Cholesterol 340.8mg	0%
Sodium 1232.6mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 655.8g	0%
Dietary Fiber 35.9g	0%
Total Sugars 381.5g
Protein 71.5g	0%

Vitamin D 53.8IU	0%
Calcium 606.8mg	0%
Iron 38.7mg	0%
Potassium 2500.6mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 31.9%

Protein: 6.7%

Carbs: 61.4%