Lebkuchen: Traditional gingerbread cookies, especially popular during Christmas

Introduction:

Celebrate the festive season with this authentic German Christmas Spice Cookie recipe, known as "Les Cucun." Brought to you by CupcakeJemma from the crumbs and doilies bakery, these spiced delights are perfect for recreating the magical experience of a German Christmas market at home. With rich molasses sugar, honey, an assortment of spices, and a hint of lemon zest, these cookies will fill your kitchen with the warm scents of the season. Delight in crafting these little treats that guarantee to spread holiday cheer!

Ingredients:

- 170 grams muscovado sugar

- 180 grams honey

- 55 grams unsalted butter, softened

- 2 large eggs

- 300 grams all-purpose flour

- 150 grams ground almonds (or a mix of ground almonds and hazelnuts)

- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder

- 2 teaspoons ground ginger

- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

- 1/2 teaspoon ground mace

- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

- 1/4 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)

- 1/2 teaspoon salt

- Zest of 1 lemon (or a mix of lemon and orange zest)

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 10-12 minutes per batch

Total Time: 35-37 minutes plus chilling time

Equipment: Large bowl, hand or stand mixer, sift, zester, baking trays, parchment paper

Servings: Makes approximately 20 cookies

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, cream together the muscovado sugar, honey, and softened butter using a hand whisk or a stand mixer until they are well combined, about 2 minutes.

2. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well between each addition until the sugar starts to dissolve slightly.

3. Sift the all-purpose flour into another bowl to avoid lumps.

4. To the sifted flour, add ground almonds, cocoa powder, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground mace, ground cloves, ground nutmeg, ground allspice, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, and salt. Sift these ingredients together to combine and aerate.

5. Stir in the zest of one lemon into the dry mixture for a fresh citrus note.

6. Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing until a smooth dough forms.

7. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to firm it up for easier shaping.

8. Preheat the oven to 170°C (340°F) and line baking trays with parchment paper.

9. Using scales, portion the dough into 40-gram pieces and roll them into balls. If the dough is sticky, slightly wet the palms of your hands to prevent sticking.

10. Place the dough balls onto the prepared baking trays with space between each to allow for expansion.

11. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookies are set but still soft to the touch.

12. Allow the cookies to cool on the trays for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Cooking Tips:

- For extra flavor, consider adding a mixture of lemon and orange zest.

- If the dough is too sticky when shaping, chilling it for longer may make it easier to handle.

- Keep an eye on the cookies as oven temperatures can vary; they should be soft when coming out and will firm up as they cool.

Attribution:

Recipe by CupcakeJemma, check out her YouTube channel for more delicious baking: https://www.youtube.com/@CupcakeJemma

#christmas #cookies #german #spices

YouTube channel - CupcakeJemma: https://www.youtube.com/@CupcakeJemma

Lebkuchen: Traditional gingerbread cookies, especially popular during Christmas