Lebkuchen, spiced German Christmas cookies, traditionally prepared during the Christmas season.
They are typical German sweets, especially associated with Advent and Christmas markets, and are one of the most beloved specialties of the winter holidays.
Their taste is unique and intense, so much so that it’s hard to describe with words; to truly understand, you have to make and taste them.
What makes Lebkuchen so special is the mix of flours and spices in the dough.
Christmas spices, like cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg, give these cookies a warm and enveloping aroma, typical of Christmas.
Unlike other cookies, Lebkuchen have a soft texture and a rich taste, making them immediately recognizable among German Christmas sweets.
An important feature of Lebkuchen is the rest time for the dough, which requires several hours.
This step is essential to allow the spices to blend and develop all their aroma.
Even if the wait may seem long, the final preparation is very quick, and baking takes little time.
The result is a fragrant, soft, and enjoyable cookie to taste.
The chocolate coating represents the finishing touch that makes Lebkuchen even more delicious. Dark chocolate pairs perfectly with the spices and completes the flavor in a balanced way.
For this reason, these cookies are often prepared in advance and stored for several days, improving over time.
Lebkuchen are not just cookies but a true symbol of German Christmas.
Making them means bringing the scents of the holidays into your home and rediscovering a simple and authentic tradition.
They are perfect to enjoy with family, to gift, or to share on the coldest days of the year.
Approx. 81 Kcal per cookie
Approx. 118 Kcal per cookie
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Medium
- Rest time: 12 Hours
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 28-30 cookies
- Cooking methods: Electric oven
- Cuisine: German
- Seasonality: Christmas, New Year
Ingredients for making Lebkuchen, spiced German Christmas cookies
- 1/2 cup All-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup Almond flour
- 1 1/2 cups Rye flour
- 1 tsp Baking soda
- 1/3 cup Wildflower honey
- 1/2 cup Brown sugar
- 1 Medium egg
- 2 tbsps Butter
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice
- Grated zest of one lemon
- 1 tbsp Rum
- 1 tbsp Ground cinnamon
- to taste Ground ginger
- 2 Ground cloves
- to taste Ground nutmeg
- Seeds from one vanilla bean
- 9 oz Extra dark chocolate
- 2 tbsps Butter
Tools
- 1 Baking sheet Baking sheet
Preparation of Lebkuchen, spiced German Christmas cookies
At least 12 hours before, prepare the dough by mixing flours, spices, baking soda, lemon juice, and grated lemon zest, rum, and egg in a bowl.
In a saucepan, pour the honey together with the sugar and butter and let it melt until everything is fused, then let it cool just a little and add it to the flour and spice mixture, working it well with your hands until a homogeneous ball is obtained.
Place the obtained dough in a freezer plastic bag and put it in the refrigerator.
After at least 12 hours, take the dough out of the fridge, flour a work surface, and roll out the dough to a thickness of about 3/8 inch.
Cut out shapes with Christmas cookie cutters…I made trees and stars.
Place the obtained shapes on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and bake in a preheated oven at 356°F for 10-12 minutes.
Once baked, let them cool, then prepare the glaze by melting the dark chocolate in a bain-marie or microwave, and once melted, add the butter and mix well.
Using kitchen tongs, take each cookie and dip it in the melted chocolate, then place it back on the baking sheet with parchment paper; once finished, let them dry until the chocolate is completely set.
Now all that’s left is to taste them and offer them to your friends…they are delicious!!
They can be stored in a closed container for at least 10 days.
