Here’s a traditional recipe for Lebkuchen — classic German spice cookies that are soft, chewy, and filled with warm holiday flavors like cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. Think of them as Germany’s answer to gingerbread — perfect for Christmas or any cozy season.
🇩🇪 Lebkuchen (German Spice Cookies)
🧂 Ingredients:
Dry Ingredients:
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground cloves
- 1 tsp ground allspice
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp salt
Wet Ingredients:
- ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup molasses
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 lemon or orange (optional but traditional)
Optional Mix-ins:
- ½ cup chopped nuts (hazelnuts, almonds, or walnuts)
- ¼ cup candied orange peel or crystallized ginger, finely chopped
For Glaze (optional but traditional):
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1–2 tbsp milk or lemon juice
👩🍳 Instructions:
1. Make the Dough
- In a large bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients.
- In a separate bowl, mix brown sugar, honey, molasses, egg, vanilla, and citrus zest until smooth.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture.
- Fold in any nuts or candied peel, if using.
- Dough will be sticky. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
2. Preheat & Shape
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough and roll into balls. Flatten slightly and place on the sheet, spaced 2 inches apart.
3. Bake
- Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until puffed and just set. The bottoms should be lightly browned.
- Let cool for 5 minutes on the sheet, then transfer to a rack.
4. Add Glaze (Optional)
- While cookies are still warm, whisk powdered sugar with just enough milk or lemon juice to make a thin glaze.
- Brush over cookies and let them set.
🍪 Tips:
- Store in an airtight container for a few days to let the spices deepen — they get even better with time!
- Traditional versions are sometimes baked on oblaten (thin edible wafers), but parchment paper works fine.
- Drizzle with chocolate or dip the bottoms for a rich twist.