Leb Kuchen Recipe - How to Make These Delicious Traditional German Christmas Cookies

How to Make Leb Kuchen Cookies

A Traditional German Recipe for Lebkuchen Christmas Cookies, made easy!

Leb kuchen is a traditional German cookie, much like a gingerbread, or a gingersnap, but with a tender and chewy texture!They're dense, sweet and chewy; commonly copied as gourmet cookies under other names.

Ingredients

50 g or 1/4 cup light brown sugar
2 cups honey
2 tablespoons baking soda
1 cup finely chopped almonds
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon of ground ginger (optional)
3 eggs
zest of 1 lemon
zest of 1 orange
250 g (or 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons) finely chopped citron (that's about 1/2 pound of candied citron peel). Citron is a large citrus fruit that looks like a lemon. You can normally find candied citron peel in your supermarket during the holidays because it is a common ingredient in fruitcake. If you can't find any, candied lemon or orange peel is a good substitute.
15 g or 3 tablespoons brandy, Triple sec, Cointreau, or Grand Marnier. A small airline bottle is the perfect amount.
750 g or 5 cups all-purpose flour

Icing

100 g or 1 cup Icing sugar, also called Confectioners' sugar or powdered sugar
2 egg whites
5 g or 1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 g or 1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Recipe and Directions

Step 1 - Mix the sugars over heat

In a large saucepan, mix then honey and brown sugar over low to medium heat.

Step 2 - Add the almonds and spices

Add in the almonds, citron, orange and lemon zest, spices and then the brandy. I finely dice the citron in a chopper or food processor first.

Step 3 - Add the baking soda and eggs

Stir the baking soda into the mix well. Next beat the eggs with a handwhisk or fork and then mix them into the pot.

Step 4 - Gradually add the flour

Gradually add in the flour.The dough will start to become very sticky.

Step 5 - Roll out the dough

Scrape the dough onto a floured 3-foot-long board or plastic wrap. Generously flour(dust) the dough. Then, using floured hands, knead the dough several times to smooth it. Flatten the dough into a 3/8-inch-thick square.

Step 6 - Cut out the cookie squares

Using either a square cookie cutter or a long knife, cut out cookies into 2 inch squares

Step 7 - Let it rest overnight

Wrap the dough in plastic and let it rest overnight in a cool room or fridge (40 F to 70 F)

Step 8 - Preheat the oven

Heat the oven to 180 C Gas Mark 4 ( or 350 F) . Line a baking sheet with parchment or lightly greased aluminum foil. Transfer the squares to the baking sheet, spacing them about an inch apart.

Step 9 - Prepare the icing

Mix the 1 cup of powdered sugars, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Step 10 - Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes

Bake the cookies on the center oven rack for 8 to 10 minutese. When done, the cookies will have formed a crust, but they should still feel soft to the touch. (Tip: The cookies stay chewier if you bake them less and put them in an airtight container while they're still slightly warm. If your family prefers a crisper cookie, just bake them a little longer and let them cool completely before you store them.) Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool