Lebkuchen (German Honey Bars)
Traditional German spiced honey cookies made with a rich blend of honey, butter, and aromatic spices including cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, and anise. These festive bars are studded with almonds, citron, and candied orange peel, then topped with a lemon glaze.
Ingredients
- •1 cup honey
- •2 tablespoons water
- •6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- •¾ cup brown sugar
- •2 large eggs
- •1 whole lemon zest
- •1 tablespoon lemon juice
- •2½ cups all-purpose flour
- •½ teaspoon baking soda
- •1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- •1 teaspoon ground cloves
- •½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- •¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
- •¼ teaspoon ground anise
- •½ teaspoon salt
- •⅓ cup chopped blanched almonds
- •⅓ cup chopped citron
- •⅓ cup chopped candied orange peel
- •1¼ cups powdered sugar
- •1 whole lemon zest
- •2 tablespoons lemon juice
- •½ teaspoon vanilla
- •24 whole candied cherries
- •96 whole blanched almonds
Cooking Instructions
- 1.
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.
10 min
- 2.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, spices, and salt.
5 min
- 3.
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.
1440 min
- 4.
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.
15 min
- 5.
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.
30 min
- 6.
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.
10 min
- 7.
Mark into bars by cutting into the lebkuchen about 1/4 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.
15 min
- 8.
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.
120 min