German Lebkuchen Bars Recipe, Whats Cooking America (2024)

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German Lebkuchen Bars are a wonderful German/Swiss Christmas tradition that is consumed and enjoyed around the world.

Lebkuchen, in German, means the “cooking of life.” It is thought that the Lebkuchen was probably the first cookie traditionally associated with Christmas and the oldest form of cookie known.

This German Lebkuchen Bar recipe originally came from my children’s German grandmother, Gertrude Zemp. Another name for this cookie is Basler Läckerli– Swiss Honey Spice Cookie originating fromBasel,Switzerland. She always made these cookies at least one month in advance of Christmas, for they improve or mellow with age because of the addition of whiskey. They will keep approximately six months in an airtight container. In my house, we can not keep these Lebkuchen Bars that long because I can not leave them alone!

More favoriteCookie RecipesandSecrets To Making Perfect Cookies. Also learnHow To Have A Successful Holiday Cookie Exchange or Cookie Swap.

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German Lebkuchen Bars Recipe:

Course:Dessert

Cuisine:German

Keyword:Basler Läckerli, German Honey Cakes Recipe, German Lebkuchen Bars Recipe

Servings: 3 dozen bars

Author: What's Cooking America

Ingredients

German Lebkuchen Bars:

  • 5cups all-purposeflour,sifted
  • 1 1/2teaspoonssalt
  • 1 1/2teaspoonsbaking soda
  • 1teaspooncloves,ground
  • 1teaspooncinnamonground
  • 2cupsalmonds,finely chopped
  • 1/4cupcandied citron,finely chopped*
  • 1/4cupcandied orange peel,finely chopped
  • 2cupshoney
  • 2cups granulatedsugar
  • 4tablespoonsbourbonor whiskey
  • 3eggs,well beaten

Milk Frosting:

  • 1cuppowdered sugar(confectioners' sugar)
  • 1 to 2tablespoonsmilk

Instructions

German Lebkuchen Bars Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly butter an approximate 12" x 17" x 1" baking pan. I have found that lining the baking pan with parchment paper, allowing it to overhand on all sides, makes for an easier removal of the bars when cut.

  2. In a very large bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda, cloves, cinnamon, almonds, candied citron, and candied orange peel; set aside.

  3. German Lebkuchen Bars Recipe, Whats Cooking America (2)In the top of a double boiler over hot water, combine honey, sugar, and whiskey; stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let mixture cool a little until just slightly warm.

  4. Add the beaten eggs, a little at a time, beating well after each addition; add to flour mixture and mix until well blended.

  5. Spread batter onto the prepared baking pan, smoothing the top with the back of a large spoon or rubber spatula.


  6. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and they are light brown.

  7. Remove from oven and place on a wire cooling rack.

  8. While Lebkuchen bars are baking, prepare the Milk Frosting.

  9. German Lebkuchen Bars Recipe, Whats Cooking America (3)While the Lebkuchen is still hot, spread the prepared Milk Frosting onto the top of the baked Lebkuchen with a spatula or a pastry brush. Let the Lebkuchen cool completely. Cut into bars, and remove from pan.

  10. Store, tightly covered, at room temperature to let mellow. These cookies get even better with age (if you can wait to eat them). Ideally you should allow them to age for 1 to 4 weeks (or even longer).

Milk Frosting Instructions:

  1. In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar and enough milk to make frosting easy to spread.

    German Lebkuchen Bars Recipe, Whats Cooking America (4)

Recipe Notes

* If you can not find candied citron (which can be hard to find some years), add additional candied lemon or orange peel plus a small pinch each of ground cinnamon and black pepper to stimulate citron’s slightly spice, more complex flavor.

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Categories:

Baking Christmas Cookies German Heirloom Recipes Swiss

Comments and Reviews

One Response to “German Lebkuchen Bars Recipe – Basler Läckerli”

  1. Melanie H

    These are the best! A new family favorite and I pay homage to my German roots with this one!

    Reply

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German Lebkuchen Bars Recipe, Whats Cooking America (2024)

FAQs

What does Lebkuchen mean in German? ›

Lebkuchen (pronounced leyb-koo-kuh n) is a centuries-old German spiced treat traditionally baked during the winter holiday season. While lebkuchen is often translated to English as gingerbread, it's not exactly what most Americans envision when they think of gingerbread.

What is typically not used for traditional German Lebkuchen gingerbread? ›

The addition of a few spices to regular buttery pastry does not make a Lebkuchen. Traditionally, gingerbread is baked with potassium carbonate as a raising agent. Regular baking powder or baking soda is not really suitable for gingerbread dough that needs to rest for several days.

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 are the different types of Lebkuchen? ›

Lebkuchen is the general name for a variety of different cookies and pastries that are made with this combination of ingredients. Lebkuchen can be round or square or rectangular. The cookies can be glazed or not glazed. And if they are glazed it can be white or chocolate.

What is the difference between Lebkuchen and pfeffernusse? ›

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.

What is the most famous Lebkuchen? ›

World-Famous and Unbelievable Mouth-Watering: Nuremberg Lebkuchen! They are world-famous and inseparably tied to Christmas - Nuremberg Lebkuchen or gingerbread! These internationally-known delicacies were first baked by Frankonian monks, who created this sweet baked good as early as the 14th century.

What is a fun fact about Lebkuchen? ›

The forerunner of today's Lebkuchen was called the "honey cake", and its history can be traced back to the Egyptians, the Greeks, and the Romans. They believed that honey, the only sweetener widely available to them, was a gift of the deities and had magical and healing powers.

What is the difference between German gingerbread and American gingerbread? ›

What is the difference between German and American gingerbread? Bavarian gingerbread is traditionally made with honey, spices, ground nuts, rye flour, and orange peel, while American gingerbread prominently features molasses and ginger.

What is gingerbread called in Germany? ›

"Lebkuchen" (gingerbread) is also known as "Honigkuchen" (honeycake) in some parts of Germany.

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 do you drink with Lebkuchen? ›

German wines are perfect to pair with food, so there are also some wines you can drink with Lebkuchen or Marzipan. I would recommend a Gewürztraminer which has a very spicy flavour and goes well with the Lebkuchen. Also a red wine like a Dornfelder or a Pinot would fit perfectly.

What is leb in Lebkuchen? ›

The root meaning of the name Lebkuchen has been lost, although there are many plausible explanations. While kuchen is 'cake' in German, the particle 'leb' may refer to Old German expressions for crystallized honey, sweetness, or even loaf. These spiced honey cakes first appeared in monasteries in the late Middle Ages.

What does Lebkuchen mean in English? ›

noun. leb·​ku·​chen. ˈlāpˌküḵən. plural lebkuchen. : a Christmas cookie usually made with honey, brown sugar, almonds, candied fruit peel, and spices.

What is the best brand of 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.

Which German 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 does Lebkuchen mean dictionary? ›

noun. a biscuit, originating from Germany, usually containing honey, spices, etc.

Why is gingerbread called Lebkuchen? ›

The root meaning of the name Lebkuchen has been lost, although there are many plausible explanations. While kuchen is 'cake' in German, the particle 'leb' may refer to Old German expressions for crystallized honey, sweetness, or even loaf. These spiced honey cakes first appeared in monasteries in the late Middle Ages.

How do you say sweetie in German? ›

term of endearment. der Schatzi pl.: die Schatzis [coll.] sweetie or: sweety [coll.] - term of endearment. das Schätzchen pl.: die Schätzchen [coll.]

Which German city is famous for its 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.

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