German Christmas Gingerbread (Lebkuchen II)

This recipe will guide you in making authentic German Christmas gingerbread, also known as Lebkuchen II. These spiced honey cookies are soft, moist, and full of flavor. They are traditionally enjoyed during the festive season and make a wonderful treat for family and friends. With this recipe, you can easily recreate the taste of Germany in your own kitchen.

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup ground almonds
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar, for dusting

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, ground almonds, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar, honey, melted butter, egg, and lemon zest.
3. Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing well after each addition.
4. Once the dough comes together, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
5. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
6. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll it out on a lightly floured surface until it is about 1/4 inch thick.
7. Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes and transfer them to the prepared baking sheet.
8. Bake for about 10-12 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are lightly golden brown.
9. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
10. Once the cookies are cool, dust them with powdered sugar before serving.

Interesting Facts