German Lebkuchen (Spiced Christmas Cookies) Recipe
Learn how to make these soft and spiced German Lebkuchen cookies, perfect for the holiday season. These traditional Christmas treats are a delightful combination of ground almonds, hazelnuts, warm spices, and honey.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 15-18 mins
- Total Time: ~1 hr 35 mins
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: German
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Dough:
- 1 cup ground almonds 🌰
- 1 cup ground hazelnuts 🌰
- ¾ cup brown sugar 🍯
- 2 large eggs 🥚
- ½ cup honey 🍯
- ½ tsp vanilla extract 🍦
- 2 tsp Lebkuchen spice mix (cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, cardamom) 🍂
- ½ tsp baking powder 🥄
- ¼ tsp salt 🧂
- Optional: ½ cup candied citrus peel 🍊
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a bowl, beat eggs, brown sugar, honey, and vanilla until smooth. In another bowl, mix ground nuts, spice mix, baking powder, and salt. Combine wet and dry ingredients; fold in candied peel if using. Chill dough for 1 hour.
- Shape and Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop tablespoon-sized portions onto sheet, spacing them apart. Bake for 15–18 minutes until edges are set.
- Glaze (Optional): While cookies are warm, brush with a glaze made from powdered sugar and a bit of water or lemon juice. Let glaze set before serving.
Notes
- For a more festive touch, decorate with sliced almonds or additional spice mix on top.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to keep them soft and flavorful.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 25mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: German, Lebkuchen, Christmas, Cookies, Holiday, Spiced