Lebkuchen Recipe--German Gingerbread Cookies

 Lebkuchen Recipe--German Gingerbread Cookies

  My sister Valerie suggested the idea of making lebkuchen which is a traditional German cookie for Christmas.  We love gingerbread and all things German being Küglers.    I started researching various recipes and what makes them authentic.   I finally blended together several recipes to come up with one of my own. It is authentic, but it does not take the complications to  Nth degree.  The German name is pronounced lebkooken.

    Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons candied citrus peel -- I made my own,  but you can purchase it. It is not as good. 

3 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda 

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 tsp baking powder

1 egg

3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup molasses

3//4 cup brown sugar

• lebkuchengewürz-- 3 Teaspoons--I made my own to be authentic and it really does matter.
• Blend this together in coffee grinder or food processor and store tightly covered.
• 
  
• 4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 2 tsp ground cloves
• 2 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp ground caradmom
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp star anise seed
• 1 tsp allspice
• 1/2 tsp mace

Sift all dry ingredients together and set aside

Preheat oven to 350° 

line cookie sheets with parchment paper for baking and spray with Bakers Joy

Blend together wet ingredients egg, butter, citrus zest finely chopped or minced, honey, molasses, brown sugar.

Add in dry ingredients a little at a time.

Turn dough out onto flour surface

Roll to 1/4 inch thickness

Cut out into rounds with floured biscuit cutter

Place on cookie sheets

Top with slivered almonds & sliced candied cherries or maraschino cherries

Bake for 10 minutes at 350.

Allow to come to a complete cool.

Glaze

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

3 Tbsp milk

Brush cookies with glaze once cooled completely

Makes 2 dozen cookies