Best Lebkuchen German Honey Bars Recipes

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GERMAN LEBKUCHEN



German Lebkuchen image

A German honey Christmas cookie made with molasses.

Provided by HILARY2000

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     German

Time 8h20m

Yield 36

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 egg
¾ cup brown sugar
½ cup honey
½ cup dark molasses
3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 ¼ teaspoons ground nutmeg
1 ¼ teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon ground allspice
½ cup slivered almonds
½ cup candied mixed fruit peel, finely chopped
1 egg white, beaten
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon lemon zest
1 ½ cups sifted confectioners' sugar

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, beat the egg, brown sugar and honey until smooth. Stir in the molasses. Combine the flour, baking soda, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and allspice; stir into the molasses mixture. Stir in the almonds and candied fruit peel. Cover or wrap dough, and chill overnight.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch in thickness. Cut into 2x3 inch rectangles. Place cookies 1 1/2 inches apart onto cookie sheets.
  • Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until firm. While still warm, brush the cookies with the lemon glaze.
  • To make the glaze: In a small bowl, stir together the egg white, lemon juice and lemon zest. Mix in the confectioners' sugar until smooth. Brush over cookies.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 119.9 calories, Carbohydrate 26.6 g, Cholesterol 5.2 mg, Fat 1.1 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 1.7 g, SaturatedFat 0.1 g, Sodium 24.1 mg, Sugar 14.6 g

LEBKUCHEN (GERMAN HONEY BARS)



Lebkuchen (German Honey Bars) image

Lebkuchen recipes are many and diverse-some are flourless, made with almond and hazelnut meal; some are made in bar form and others in cookie form; some are glazed with chocolate and others with a thin lemon glaze. We like to age the dough for up to two months before baking to allow the flavors to develop (the sugar and honey keep the egg from spoiling). After baking, these resilient cookies can be stored in an airtight container for at least a month more.

Provided by Megan Scott

Categories     Cookies     Christmas     cookbooks     Dessert     Fall     Winter     Honey     Almond     Lemon     Lemon Juice     Cinnamon     Clove     Cardamom     Anise     Nutmeg     Spice

Yield Makes 36 (2 1/4 x 1 1/2-inch) bars

Number Of Ingredients 27

Honey bars:
1 cup (320g) honey
2 tablespoons (30g) water
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick or 85g) unsalted butter, cut into cubes
¾ cup packed (175g) brown sugar
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon (15g) lemon juice
2 ½ cups sifted (300g) all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon grated or ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
¼ teaspoon ground anise
½ teaspoon salt
1/3 cup chopped blanched almonds
1/3 cup chopped citron
1/3 cup chopped candied orange peel
Citrus glaze:
1 ¼ cups powdered sugar, sifted
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons lemon juice
½ teaspoon vanilla
Decoration:
Candied cherries (optional)
Blanched almonds (optional)

Steps:

  • Honey bars:
  • Heat honey and water in a large heavy saucepan until runny. Remove from heat, and stir in butter until melted. Transfer mixture to a large bowl and stir in brown sugar, eggs, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, spices, and salt.
  • Add the flour mixture to the honey mixture and stir just until combined. Add almonds, citron, and candied orange peel. Stir until the dough is smooth. Cover the dough tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 24 hours or up to 1 month.
  • When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper so it extends over the 2 long sides.
  • Firmly press the dough into the prepared pan to form a smooth, even layer. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean, about 30 minutes.
  • Citrus glaze and decoration:
  • In a medium bowl, beat together powdered sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla until smooth. While the lebkuchen is still warm, spread glaze evenly over the top.
  • Mark into bars by cutting into the lebkuchen about ¼ inch deep with a knife. Decorate, if desired, by placing 1 candied cherry in the center of each bar. And arrange 4 blanched almonds around each cherry.
  • Let stand in the pan on a rack until completely cool and the icing is set. Using the overhanging parchment as handles, transfer to a cutting board. Cut into bars. If possible, let the cookies age for at least 2 weeks to allow the spices to ripen. Lebkuchen will keep for months in an airtight container.

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