Lebkuchen

Total Time Prep: 25 min. Bake: 25 min. + cooling
Yield 3 dozen
Test Kitchen Approved
Dense, chewy lebkuchen is a great addition to your Christmas-cookie routine, but you can make it any time of year. While most lebkuchen contains ginger, this is a ginger-free version that uses other spices and molasses to achieve a similar flavor.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup molasses
  • 1/4 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 teaspoon anise extract
  • 4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon each ground allspice, cardamom and cloves
  • 1/2 cup ground walnuts
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 1/2 cup pitted dates
  • 1/2 cup candied lemon peel
  • 1/3 cup sweetened shredded coconut
  • 1/4 cup candied orange peel
  • 3 tablespoons candied pineapple
  • GLAZE:
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. Line a 15x10x1-in. baking pan with parchment.
  2. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in molasses, buttermilk and extract. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, allspice, cardamom and cloves; gradually add to creamed mixture and beat well. Stir in walnuts.
  3. Place raisins, dates, lemon peel, coconut, orange peel and pineapple in a food processor; pulse until chopped. Stir into batter; press into prepared pan. Bake 25-28 minutes or until lightly browned.
  4. For glaze, in a small saucepan, bring sugar and water to a boil; boil 1 minute. Remove from heat; whisk in confectioners' sugar. Spread over warm bars. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

Nutrition Facts

1 bar: 187 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 17mg cholesterol, 137mg sodium, 36g carbohydrate (23g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein.

It's tradition for my family to make these German treats together. The recipe came from my great-grandmother's cookbook, and judging from the amount of requests I get, it has certainly stood the test of time. —Esther Kempker, Jefferson City, Missouri
Recipe Creator

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