Lebkuchen recipe (2024)

Recipe Tips

To make shaped lebkuchen, wait until the dough has cooled but still soft. Roll out on a lightly floured surface to 2.5cm/1in thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes and bake as above. If your cookies are quite large they may need a few more minutes in the oven.

To make filled lebkuchen, wait until the dough has cooled but still soft. Roll out on a dusted work surface to 2.5cm/1in thick. Dot the right-hand half of the dough with teaspoons of apricot jam, cherry jam or chocolate spread, ensuring there is space in between. Fold over the remaining dough and flatten with your hands around the dots of jam. Use a cookie cutter to cut out the shapes, ensuring the jam is in the centre of each cookie. Bake as above. If your cookies are quite large they may need a few more minutes in the oven.

If you want to add decorations to your cookies, drizzle melted white chocolate or a thick sugar icing over the lebkuchen and top with sugar snowflakes for a fun finish.

Lebkuchen recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the white stuff on the bottom of Lebkuchen? ›

WHAT IS ON THE BOTTOM OF LEBKUCHEN? Oblaten Lebkuchen are distinguished by a signature edible wafer (collectively called Oblaten in German) on the bottom. The wafers are made from wheat flour, starch, and water.

What is the difference between gingerbread and lebkuchen? ›

Lebküchen, on the other hand, is darker, denser, and richer than gingerbread with its focus on honey, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, cardamom, and ginger all amplified with a pinch of mace. If you like gingerbread but want to step up the flavor game, then Lebküchen is the way to go.

What is the best lebkuchen? ›

We believe Leckerlee lebkuchen is hands-down the highest-quality lebkuchen you can buy in the States, and we stand by our product with a 100% money-back guarantee.

What is the wafer on the bottom of Lebkuchen? ›

Back-oblaten, or baking wafers, are round wafers often used as the base of each lebkuchen. They're traditional, but not necessary. It is critical that the nuts be ground into a flour, as that is their function in this recipe.

What does lebkuchen mean in German? ›

masculine noun. gingerbread. DeclensionLebkuchen is a masculine noun. Remember that, in German, both the spelling of the word and the article preceding the word can change depending on whether it is in the nominative, accusative, genitive, or dative case.

What is the difference between Pfeffernusse and lebkuchen? ›

Pfeffernusse and lebkuchen are both similarly flavored with honey and lots of warm baking spices but pfeffernusse are almost always small, rounded cookies coated with a powdered sugar glaze, while lebkuchen may be shaped like regular cookies or cut in bars and are generally glazed with chocolate.

Does Trader Joe's sell lebkuchen? ›

Our Chocolate Covered Lebkuchen are popular with a certain crowd, but some folks don't like the nuts and spices in these traditional German gingerbread cookies.

What is a fun fact about lebkuchen? ›

The dessert's roots can be traced to the 13th century when spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg were introduced to Europe. Franconian Monks are believed to have been the first to combine honey, spices, and breadcrumbs to create a sweet, flavorful dough. Lebkuchen has become associated with the holidays since then.

What is the paper on the bottom of lebkuchen? ›

What is that white papery thing on the bottom of the cookie? That is called an Oblaten - German for a paper thin wafer.

What city is famous for lebkuchen? ›

In Germany, when you think of Christmas, you think of Nuremberg Lebkuchen, the city's famous gingerbread. These sweet and spicy treats have been baked for more than 600 years and are loved by young and old alike.

What is the best selling cookie in Germany? ›

1 Lebkuchen: Germany's Favorite

We've come to the most popular German biscuit – Lebkuchen or known as gingerbread (“Lebkuchen” in English is “gingerbread”).

What is the famous Nuremberg Lebkuchen? ›

Since July 1, 1996, Nuremberg Lebkuchen are recognized in Europe as a "protected geographical indication" and have the right to bear the EU seal. The masterpieces of the gingerbread trade are the "Elisenlebkuchen", named after the lovely daughter of a master baker.

What is leb in lebkuchen? ›

Folk etymology often associates the name with Leben (life), Leib (body), or Leibspeise (favorite food). Kuchen means 'cake'.

Is Lebkuchen a cake or biscuit? ›

Lebkuchen are traditional German Christmas cookies. Whether you make traditional circles or cut into stars and hearts, friends and family will love these Christmas biscuits.

What is the fat in lebkuchen? ›

Cookie, Lebkuchen
Nutrition Facts
Total Fat 3.1g4 %
Saturated Fat 0.8g4 %
Sodium 110mg5 %
Total Carbohydrate 18g7 %
27 more rows

What are some interesting facts about lebkuchen? ›

The dessert's roots can be traced to the 13th century when spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg were introduced to Europe. Franconian Monks are believed to have been the first to combine honey, spices, and breadcrumbs to create a sweet, flavorful dough. Lebkuchen has become associated with the holidays since then.

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