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German Gingerbread Cookies

A festive assortment of German gingerbread cookies decorated with white icing in a green holiday-themed tin.
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Authentic German Gingerbread Cookies, also known as Lebkuchen, are soft, chewy, and spiced holiday treats made with honey, brown sugar, almonds, and warm spices. Perfect for Christmas gifts, tree decorations, or festive snacking.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 125g brown sugar
  • 125g unsalted butter
  • 250g honey
  • 400g all-purpose flour
  • 100g ground almonds
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 2 tsp Lebkuchen spice (homemade or store-bought)
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 medium egg
  • 75g powdered sugar (for glaze)
  • 1–2 tbsp lemon juice (for glaze)
  • 100g dark chocolate (optional, for decoration)

Instructions

  1. In a small saucepan, melt the butter, brown sugar, and honey over low heat, stirring until dissolved. Do not boil. Let cool to room temperature.
  2. Add the egg, cocoa powder, Lebkuchen spice, baking powder, and cinnamon. Mix well using a hand or stand mixer.
  3. Gradually add in the flour and ground almonds. Knead into a thick, sticky dough.
  4. Wrap dough in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container. Let rest at room temperature for at least 5 hours or overnight.
  5. Preheat oven to 340°F (170°C).
  6. Roll dough to 5mm thickness using a rolling pin. Use cling film on top if sticky.
  7. Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters and place on parchment-lined baking trays.
  8. Bake for 15 minutes until lightly golden. Let cool on a wire rack.
  9. Mix powdered sugar with lemon juice to make glaze. Adjust consistency as needed.
  10. Decorate cooled cookies with glaze or melted dark chocolate using a piping bag or spoon.

Notes

  • Let the dough rest overnight for deeper flavor.
  • If cookies harden over time, store with a slice of apple in the container to soften.
  • Use almond meal or flour for ground almonds.
  • Cookies make excellent edible tree decorations when shaped and glazed creatively.
  • Store in a cool, dry place in tins for up to 4 weeks.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://recipeeasily.com/german-gingerbread-cookies-recipe/