Lebkuchen Recipe for Authentic German Delight
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Yield: Approximately 150 pieces
Calories per Serving: 54.5
Fat Content: 2.6g
Saturated Fat Content: 0.2g
Cholesterol Content: 8.5mg
Sodium Content: 3.5mg
Carbohydrate Content: 7.3g
Fiber Content: 0.4g
Sugar Content: 6.7g
Protein Content: 0.9g
Ingredients:
- 6 eggs
- 470g sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 480g hazelnuts (divided into halves)
- 50g walnuts
- 100g citron
- 100g lemon peel
- 1 orange
- 1 tsp ginger
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp clove
- 1/2 tsp pimiento
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp cardamom
- 1/2 tsp anise
- Confectioners’ sugar (quantity not specified)
- 130ml rum
- 2 cups red wine
Instructions:
- In a bowl, vigorously mix the eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract until foamy, ensuring the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Chop half of the hazelnuts and grind the other half.
- To the egg mixture, add the nuts, orange, citron, lemon peel, ginger, and all the spices. Mix thoroughly.
- Wrap the dough in plastic and let it rest overnight in the refrigerator.
- On the next day, place baking oblates (thin, paper-like sugar wafers) on a cookie sheet lined with baking paper.
- Shape small balls from the dough and set them on oblates, leaving about 1/2 inch space all around the edge.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Bake for 20 minutes. To prevent excessive browning, place another cookie sheet above the lebkuchen during baking.
- Once baked, the light brown lebkuchen should be soft on the inside. Allow them to cool on a rack.
- For one-third of the lebkuchen, leave them without icing.
- For another third, mix confectioner sugar with rum and red wine until smooth. Brush this mixture onto the lebkuchen.
- The remaining one-third can be adorned with a rich chocolate coating. Melt a good German “zart bitter” chocolate or Baker’s Baking chocolate in a double boiler. Dip a fork into the melted chocolate and run it over the cookies in a criss-cross pattern. Let them dry completely.
- Store the lebkuchen in tightly sealed containers. For added freshness, store an apple with them. After 10 days, they will have developed their optimum flavors.
Additional Tips:
- For an authentic touch, try to source German Citron and Orangeat. King Albert Flour is a recommended supplier, and you can inquire about these items by calling 1-800-827-6836.
- Backoblaten, thin sweet paper-like rounds to set cookies on, can be obtained at specialty kitchen stores or ordered from “Himmelhaus” at 219-293-8361. They also offer ‘Lebkuchengewuerz,’ a ready-mix of the 9 spices needed for this recipe.
Enjoy your homemade Lebkuchen – a true taste of German tradition! 🇩🇪🍪
