Classic Lebkuchen Recipe

Name: Classic Lebkuchen Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 7 Tablespoons Honey; 3/4 cup Brown Sugar; 1/2 stick Butter; 2 3/4 cups All Purpose Flour; 1 1/2 Teaspoon Baking powder; 1 Egg Yolk; dash Lemon zest; 1 cup Walnuts (ground ); 5 Teaspoons Lebkuchen spice blend; 2 Teaspoons Cinnamon ground; 1 Egg-white; 2 cups Powdered Sugar; colorful Sugar decoration (as shown); Candied fruits; Nuts

Helene Dsouza

Get creative with the decoration of your Lebkuchen cookies, Use icing sugar and little colorful sugar decorations to get into Christmas mood.

Total Time: 45 minutes

4.88 from 8 votes

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Classic Lebkuchen cookies can't be missed in a German and Austrian household for Christmas.

Learn everything about Lebkuchen and how you can make them from scratch at home.

What is Lebkuchen?

Lebkuchen is a German honey cake.

Lebkuchen have a firm and dense, yet soft texture, a distinct honey taste, and a wonderful aroma created by a generous blend of spices, such as ginger, cardamom, aniseed, coriander, cloves, and allspice.

It can also have almonds, hazelnuts, and walnuts.

Candied lemon and orange peels are also used by some Lebkuchen bakers to refine their confection.

There are Oblaten Lebkuchen, which are placed on a communion wafer, a legacy from when nuns and monks were the Lebkuchen bakers.

There are some variations on the basic Lebkuchen, such as the Elisenlebkuchen, which is made with less flour than the regular Lebkuchen.

In fact, the Elisenlebkuchen must contain no less than 25 percent nuts and less than 10 percent wheat flour.

History

Cakes made with honey have been baked since antiquity before the industrial production of sugar made it an available and affordable ingredient.

Honey cakes have been found in Roman, Greek, and Egyptian civilizations and were often believed to have magical protection powers as sweet honey was regarded as a blessing from the gods.

The honey acts not only as a sweetener but also as a leavening and preservative.

The German Lebkuchen was invented by nuns and monks in the 13th century.

The city of Nuremberg was at the forefront of Lebkuchen manufacturing and has produced the famous Nürnberger Lebkuchen that is still made today.

Lebkuchen VS Gingerbread

Gingerbread is similar to Lebkuchen as it is also made with spices, but gingerbread does not usually contain nuts.

Gingerbread cookies are also made with molasses, comapred to Lebkuchen cookies which contain honey.

Gingerbread houses originated in Germany in the 16th century and their popularity increased when the Brothers Grimm wrote Hansel and Gretel, where the witch lived in a house made of cookies and candy.

You can make a gingerbread house from Lebkuchen dough, just make sure to keep it a bit longer in the oven so that it becomes firmer and is able to hold the shape better.

german lebkuchen cookies with candied cherries

Decoration

Because of the firmness of the dough, Lebkuchen cookies lend themselves well to being decorated with different patterns.

Modern

People usually decorate their Lebkuchen cookies with candied cherry halves and almond halves.

Icing sugar is also commonly used in combination with small sugar decorations.

Lebkuchen are also often glazed or covered in dark chocolate.

Tradition

Special delicately carved wooden Lebkuchen molds that depict flowers, geometric patterns and Christmas motives are used.

The earliest molds had Biblical themes and were used to educate the public about the Gospel at a time when most people were illiterate and books were written by hand and expensive.

Different rulers also used to emboss their portraits on Lebkuchen and distribute them among people to increase their popularity.

Lebkuchen are still popular today and Lebkuchen hearts that have declarations of love inscribed with icing are a popular item at fairs and Christmas markets.

Storing

Traditionally, in Germany, Lebkuchen are stored in a tin box between layers of parchment paper.

If you live in a cool and dry climate, you can place apple peels in the tin box for a nice aroma and to retain cookie moisture.

Keep in a dry and cool place away from direct sunlight for up to 1 month.

But in hot and tropical countries, it would be best to consume the Lebkuchen soon after baking to prevent them from going bad.

They can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for a couple of weeks.

Can you hang lebkuchen on the christmas tree as deco?

Yes, can you make beautiful Christmas tree decorations made of Lebkuchen if you live in a cold climate. In tropical countries, it would be best to consume the Lebkuchen soon after baking to prevent it from going bad. They can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for a couple of weeks.

Dear Reader, how are you planning to decorate your Lebkuchen cookies?

Please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas with us in the comment section further below!

Classic Lebkuchen Recipe was first published on the 23rd of December 2012 at masalaherb.com!

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Comments

Amy Dong says

December 11, 2017 at 8:27 am

Since my boys love pretty much everything with sugar, they'll adore these!! Thanks for such step by step photos to illustrate...they can probably even make these for me!

Soniya says

December 08, 2017 at 10:46 pm

This cookies looks so yummilicious 👌.. lived reading about the history mofnthis cookies!

Tracy | Baking Mischief says

December 08, 2017 at 8:55 pm

I've never made lebkuchen before, but it looks delicious. I can't wait to try it!

kathryn clayton says

December 08, 2017 at 8:04 pm

Love the history behind these gorgeous Christmas cookies. Christmas cookie making is great to be passed down through the generations. Love how you've added a link for gluten free version.

Leslie says

December 08, 2017 at 7:43 pm

I never knew the tip to keep them moist was to put apple slices in them. Now mine won't get dry!

- Helene Dsouza says
  
  December 09, 2017 at 11:44 am
  
  Apple skin 🙂
  
lisa says

December 08, 2017 at 7:35 pm

I love seeing all the different types of Christmas cookies from around the world! I realize that I've only made a handful of them and I need to step up my cookie game! Thanks for the recipe.

Nadene says

December 08, 2017 at 8:52 am

These look so authentic. And I bet they taste delicious. thanks for sharing

Patricia says

December 07, 2017 at 11:24 pm

These sound fantastic! I have been baking up a storm since December started and these have been added to my baking list. Can't wait to try them!.

Stacy says

December 07, 2017 at 11:23 pm

Thanks for the great recipe!

Joyce says

December 06, 2017 at 11:59 pm

I love spiced cookies! I always hunt them out every year since they are not always available and then I hoard them! haha 🙂 I'm happy to have found this so I can make it at home instead! 🙂

Suzy says

December 06, 2017 at 11:32 pm

I remember having something similar when I visited my cousins in Germany! Love these cookies!

Ben Myhre says

December 06, 2017 at 11:32 pm

Today I learned about one of the best well known Christmas cookies in Europe. Never even heard of em. I know I have seen and eaten them, but did not know what they were.

Rae says

December 06, 2017 at 11:31 pm

Growing up these were the cookies I looked forward to each Christmas. My great-grandmother made them in large batches and sadly didn't write down the recipe... I've been on the search ever since for a similar recipe. Looking forward to trying yours.

Elaine @ Dishes Delish says

December 06, 2017 at 10:49 pm

Mmm. How fun! This reminds me of my grandmother's cookies! So comforting seeing these recipes my nana used to make!!

Terra says

December 28, 2012 at 9:54 am

Wow, I am so behind on your beautiful blog, I am soooooo sorry! I promise to catch up this weekend! I finally made homemade gingerbread cake this year, now I need to make gingerbread cookies! Your recipe looks wonderful, I am looking forward to your other versions of this lovely recipe:-) Hugs, Terra

Lyn @LovelyPantry says

December 27, 2012 at 11:37 am

I absolutely liked reading the history behind these cookies. It makes me wonder if I've ever had an authentic Lebkuchen. But you're right, this is very easy to make and look like fun to decorate too 🙂

Eha says

December 24, 2012 at 7:31 am

Those of us originally from Europe but now long time citizens of Down Under always retain two things for Christmas: black pudding and lebkuchen! Up north we must be very 'dour' and 'boring' people because we don't decorate them, just have lots of shapes! May I add my best wishes for 'Fröhliche Weinachten und alles, alles gute in Neuem Jahr'!

kitchenriffs says

December 24, 2012 at 12:05 am

Love the flavors. We make gingerbread cookies, but don't use honey - I really like the idea of this. Such good stuff. I hope you have a happy holiday!

Ganga Sreekanth says

December 23, 2012 at 11:27 am

ookies looks crispy, crunchy, yummy and fabulous. Feel like having it now.

Nancy/SpicieFoodie says

December 23, 2012 at 3:07 am

Hi Helene,
I love Lebkuchen. They are sold here for special occasions. I loved the history you gave and didn't know so much of it. Thanks for sharing & Merry Christmas!

Classic Lebkuchen Cookies Recipe