Receta Lebkuchen Cookies

by Turnips2Tangerines

Gingerbread Cookies~

Lebkuchen~

Nüremberg Lebkuchen is very popular in Germany around Christmas time.

A spicy gingerbread, that goes well with coffee, tea and Glüdwein.

These soft, spicy, gingerbread cookies keep for several weeks.

There are many regional variations of the Lebkuchen, but the most well known is:

Nürnberger Lebkuchen from the city of Nüremberg.

Most common ingredients in Lebkuchen include: honey, flour, sugar, eggs, cinnamon, cloves, anise, cardamom, coriander, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, ground almonds, candied lemon and orange peel.

Nürnberger Lebkuchen or gingerbread has been around since the 14th century. Lebkucken, also called Pfefferkuchen, is German gingerbread. Lebkuchen are either rectangle or round. They have a sweet, light, nutty taste and their aroma is spicy, a bit like nutmeg and allspice. They are usually soft with a slight crunch from the nuts and glaze.

Types of Lebkuchen~

Oblaten Lebkuchen~

"Oblaten" are thin wafers. Oblaten Lebkuchen

are baked on these thin Oblaten wafers.

Originally this was done to prevent the cookie

from sticking to the cookie sheet

"Oblaten" wafers which may serve as the bottoms of any cookie,

look like Catholic Communion wafers and are actually made in the same manner

These thin, crisp, edible wafers can be purchased all over Germany, at American German Deli Markets or online at: Bavaria Sausage Inc.

Elisen Lebkuchen~

These are the highest quality Oblaten Lebkuchen

available. They must have at least 25% almonds,

hazelnuts, or walnuts (no other kind of nuts

are allowed). Likewise, they must contain no more

than 10 % flour

Nürnberger Lebkuchen

These are Lebkuchen that are baked in the city of

Nürnberg, and are worldwide the most well known.

They are often baked on Oblaten (thin wafers), and

they are known for their light, soft texture. Marzipan

is often an ingredient of these cookies

Types of Lebkuchen~

Kaiserlein~

These are Lebkuchen onto which a picture is

Brown (Braune) Lebkuchen~

These cookies are made from a honey or syrup dough.

The dough is either molded, cut, or formed and is baked

without Oblaten. The baked cookies are often covered

with a sugar glaze or chocolate

White (Weisse) Lebkuchen~

These cookies get their name from their very light color.

• The color comes from a high amount of whole eggs and/or
• egg whites in the dough. They are usually decorated with
• almonds and/or candied lemon and orange peels
• Lebkuchen (Gingerbread) Cookies~
• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 eggs
• 3 cup flour
• 1 T Lebkuchengewürz spice, recipe follows
• 2 T cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 t baking powder
• 1 cup milk
• 1 3/4 cup finely ground almonds
• 1/2 cup candied lemon peel
• 1 T run or orange liqueur, brandy
• *Lebkuchengewürz (Gingerbread Seasoning)
• *See Note~ *Spices*
• 5 1/2 T ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 T ground cloves
• 1 t allspice
• 1/2 t ground nutmeg
• 1 t ground coriander
• 1 t ground cardamom
• 1 t ground ginger
• Extras:
• 32 "Oblaten" (baking wafers) 3-inch size
• 1/2 cup golden raisins, soaked in rum and chopped
• Prep time: 25 minutes
• Cook time: 20 minutes
• Total time: 45 minutes
• Cream butter, sugar and eggs until light and fluffy.
• Mix in flour, spices, cocoa powder and baking powder, alternating with milk.
• Fold in nuts and lemon peel
• Stir in rum
• Stir in raisins, if using
• Line baking sheet with Oblaten or
• Draw 3-inch diameter circles on parchment paper using a cup or biscuit cutter as a template
• Drop about 3 T cookie dough into the center of each circle
• If you are using "Oblaten" drop the dough onto the wafer and smooth to the edges
• When baking sheet is full
• Use the back of a spoon to fill out the circle
• Slightly mounding the dough towards the center
• Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes
• Turn down oven to 350 if cookies are browning to fast
• Let cool for a few minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool
• While still warm make glaze
• Vanilla Glaze:
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 t vanilla
• 1-2 T rum
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• Place sugar and water in a small saucepan
• Bring to a boil, boil for 1-2 minutes
• Add vanilla and liqueur
• Sift powdered sugar over the hot sugar syrup and stir
• Using a pastry brush, brush warm glaze over warm cookies
• Let dry completely
• Dry glazed cookies until set
• Store in an airtight container or freeze cookies
• Chocolate Glaze:
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 T light corn syrup
• 4 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
• Place chocolate chips in a medium bowl
• Heat sugar, corn syrup, and water in a 1-quart saucepan
• over medium high heat
• Stir constantly until sugar dissolves
• Pour mixture over chocolate chips
• Let sit for 1 minute
• Stir until glaze is shiny and chocolate is melted

Brush glaze over Lebkuchen

Dry glazed cookies until set

Store in an airtight container or freeze cookies

*See Note~*Spices*

Lebkuchen call for the use of several different spices. If you live near a store that sells spices by the bulk such as Bulk Priced Food Shoppe, I would suggest buying just the amounts of spices you will need. You can purchase bulk spices for as little as .10¢ per teaspoon.