Lebkuchen

Lebkuchen is a German spiced pastry, baked for Christmas similar to gingerbread apart its soft texture. It is often used to make decorated slabs or decorated little houses.

Recipe for 10 to 20 lebkuchen:

• 420g plain flour, sifted
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground allspice
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 2 eggs
• 200g sugar
• 120ml honey
• 110g almonds, finely chopped
• 60g candied orange peel, finely chopped
• 60g candied lemon peel, finely chopped
  

For the Glaze:

• 65g icing sugar
• 1 tbsp water
• 1 tsp lemon juice

Sift together the flour, baking soda and spices into a bowl. Then, beat together the eggs and sugar in a separate bowl until it becomes thick and creamy. Carefully and gradually add the honey to the egg mixture. Then, add a quarter of the dry ingredients, mixing well with a wooden spoon, like you would do for a sponge base. Repeat 4 times until all the dry ingredients have been incorporated.

Now add the almonds and the candied peels and stir them into the batter then pour the mixture onto a well-greased baking tray (or spoon individual portions). Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180°C for 25 to 30 minutes. Allow to cool on a pastry rack when cooked.

Meanwhile, mix the glaze ingredients together. Then, when the lebkuchen have cool down entirely spread over the icing.

Suitable for vegetarian, pregnant women, lactose free.