Best 6 Lebkuchen Spice Bars Recipes

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Indulge your senses with the warm and inviting aroma of Lebkuchen spice bars, a delectable treat that combines the essence of Christmas with the comfort of home. Immerse yourself in a symphony of flavors as the rich blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cardamom dances on your palate, evoking memories of cozy holiday gatherings and the joy of sharing special moments with loved ones. Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting your culinary journey, this article will guide you through the steps of creating the perfect Lebkuchen spice bars, capturing the spirit of the season in every bite.

Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!

LEBKUCHEN SPICE MIX (LEBKUCHENGEWURZ)



Lebkuchen Spice Mix (Lebkuchengewurz) image

This classic German spice mix can be used anywhere you want a dash of warm, Christmas-y spice.

Provided by Luisa Weiss

Categories     Spice     Christmas     Cinnamon     Clove     Cardamom     Ginger     Anise

Yield Makes about 1/2 cup/50g spice mix

Number Of Ingredients 7

5 tablespoons/30g ground cinnamon
1 1/2 tablespoons ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground mace
3/4 teaspoon ground aniseed

Steps:

  • Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well to combine. Store in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Kept in a dark, cool place, the mix will stay fresh for 1 year.

LEBKUCHEN (SPICE BARS)



Lebkuchen (Spice Bars) image

Make and share this Lebkuchen (Spice Bars) recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Shawnee TX

Categories     Bar Cookie

Time 15m

Yield 4 dozen bars, 12 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon allspice, Ground
1/4 teaspoon clove, Ground
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 cups flour, Unbleached, Unsifted
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup almonds, Ground
1 teaspoon lemon, rind of, Grated
2 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup honey
1/2 cup milk
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon rum
1 tablespoon water

Steps:

  • Stir together the spices, salt flour, and baking powder.
  • Stir in the almonds and lemon rind.
  • In a separate bowl beat the eggs and sugar until a ribbon is formed when the beater is removed.
  • Stir in the honey and milk.
  • Gradually stir in the flour mixture; beat until smooth.
  • Spread the batter in an 11 X 17-inch jelly roll pan that is well greased and floured.
  • Bake at 400 degrees F for 12 to 15 minutes, until the cake is done.
  • While the cake is still warm, turn it out onto a wire rack.
  • To make the almond glaze, mix the confectioners' sugar, almond extract, rum, and 1 to 2 T of water.
  • Beat until glaze is smooth and of the right consistency.
  • Add more water to thin if neccessary.
  • Spread the warm cake with the almond glaze.
  • Cut cake into 1 X 2 1/2-inch bars while still warm.
  • Spice bars keep 6 to 8 weeks in a sealed container if not glazed.

LEBKUCHEN (GERMAN HONEY BARS)



Lebkuchen (German Honey Bars) image

Lebkuchen recipes are many and diverse-some are flourless, made with almond and hazelnut meal; some are made in bar form and others in cookie form; some are glazed with chocolate and others with a thin lemon glaze. We like to age the dough for up to two months before baking to allow the flavors to develop (the sugar and honey keep the egg from spoiling). After baking, these resilient cookies can be stored in an airtight container for at least a month more.

Provided by Megan Scott

Categories     Cookies     Christmas     cookbooks     Dessert     Fall     Winter     Honey     Almond     Lemon     Lemon Juice     Cinnamon     Clove     Cardamom     Anise     Nutmeg     Spice

Yield Makes 36 (2 1/4 x 1 1/2-inch) bars

Number Of Ingredients 27

Honey bars:
1 cup (320g) honey
2 tablespoons (30g) water
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick or 85g) unsalted butter, cut into cubes
¾ cup packed (175g) brown sugar
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon (15g) lemon juice
2 ½ cups sifted (300g) all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon grated or ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
¼ teaspoon ground anise
½ teaspoon salt
1/3 cup chopped blanched almonds
1/3 cup chopped citron
1/3 cup chopped candied orange peel
Citrus glaze:
1 ¼ cups powdered sugar, sifted
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons lemon juice
½ teaspoon vanilla
Decoration:
Candied cherries (optional)
Blanched almonds (optional)

Steps:

  • Honey bars:
  • Heat honey and water in a large heavy saucepan until runny. Remove from heat, and stir in butter until melted. Transfer mixture to a large bowl and stir in brown sugar, eggs, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, spices, and salt.
  • Add the flour mixture to the honey mixture and stir just until combined. Add almonds, citron, and candied orange peel. Stir until the dough is smooth. Cover the dough tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 24 hours or up to 1 month.
  • When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper so it extends over the 2 long sides.
  • Firmly press the dough into the prepared pan to form a smooth, even layer. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean, about 30 minutes.
  • Citrus glaze and decoration:
  • In a medium bowl, beat together powdered sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla until smooth. While the lebkuchen is still warm, spread glaze evenly over the top.
  • Mark into bars by cutting into the lebkuchen about ¼ inch deep with a knife. Decorate, if desired, by placing 1 candied cherry in the center of each bar. And arrange 4 blanched almonds around each cherry.
  • Let stand in the pan on a rack until completely cool and the icing is set. Using the overhanging parchment as handles, transfer to a cutting board. Cut into bars. If possible, let the cookies age for at least 2 weeks to allow the spices to ripen. Lebkuchen will keep for months in an airtight container.

MA B'S LEBKUCHEN (GERMAN SPICE BARS) RECIPE - (4.3/5)



Ma B's lebkuchen (German spice bars) Recipe - (4.3/5) image

Provided by á-39535

Number Of Ingredients 17

Bars:
2 eggs
1 C sugar
1/2 t salt
1 t vanilla
1/2 C melted butter
1/4 C molasses
1 1/4 C flour
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t allspice
1/2 t nutmeg
a pinch of ground anise
1 T cocoa
1 C chopped almonds (optional)
glaze:
1 1/2 C powdered sugar
warm milk

Steps:

  • Beat together the eggs, salt, vanilla, and sugar until light and fluffy (best if done with an electric mixer) Add the butter and molasses and thoroughly combine. Mix in the flour, cocoa and spices then fold in the almonds if using. Spread batter evenly in a 9" greased square baking pan. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Prepare the glaze while the bars are still warm by mixing the powdered sugar with just enough water to make it a glaze texture. Pour over the bars while still warm. Serve from the pan while still warm or out of the pan once cooled and glaze has set.

LEBKUCHEN



Lebkuchen image

The German town of Nuremberg has been famous for its lebkuchen since the late 1300s. The soft, cakey cookies are traditionally made with several spices, candied citrus peel, hazelnuts, and almonds.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Cookie Recipes

Yield Makes 17

Number Of Ingredients 18

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground mace
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/3 cup blanched whole almonds (about 1 3/4 ounces), toasted, plus more untoasted for decorating
1/3 cup blanched hazelnuts (1 1/2 ounces), toasted
1/3 cup diced candied orange peel
1/3 cup diced candied lemon peel
4 Medjool dates, pitted and chopped
3 ounces almond paste, crumbled into small pieces
1/3 cup apricot jam
3 large eggs
3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons whole milk

Steps:

  • Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and spices. Pulse almonds and hazelnuts in a food processor until very finely chopped. Add candied peels and dates, and pulse until finely chopped. Add almond paste, and pulse to combine. Add jam, and pulse. Add eggs and brown sugar, and pulse. Add flour mixture, and pulse. Transfer dough to an airtight container, and refrigerate overnight (or up to 3 days).
  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Using a 2-inch ice cream scoop (1/4 cup), drop dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing cookies 3 inches apart. Place 3 almonds close together on top of each cookie. Bake until golden brown, about 14 minutes. Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks.
  • Whisk together confectioners' sugar and milk, and brush over cooled cookies. Let stand until set.

CHOCOLATE LEBKUCHEN



Chocolate Lebkuchen image

This recipe comes from Christmas, 1961. These bars have a light, tart frosting. This dough needs to ripen for a couple of days, but it's worth it.

Provided by Juanita Peek

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     German

Time P3DT1h20m

Yield 50

Number Of Ingredients 18

1 ¼ cups white sugar
¾ cup honey
2 tablespoons water
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped almonds
½ cup candied mixed fruit, chopped
2 eggs, beaten
¼ cup orange juice
2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
2 teaspoons ground cardamom
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 ½ cups confectioners' sugar
2 ½ tablespoons orange juice
¼ cup green decorator sugar
¼ cup cinnamon red hot candies

Steps:

  • Combine sugar, honey and water in a large saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil, then remove from the heat and set aside to cool. In a medium bowl, stir together the honey mixture with the chocolate chips, almonds, candied fruit, eggs, and orange juice. Sift together the flour, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, baking soda and baking powder; stir into the fruit and nut mixture. Tightly cover the bowl, and refrigerate for 2 to 3 days to blend the flavors.
  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan. Spread the dough evenly into the prepared pan.
  • Bake for 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven. Cool and frost with the orange frosting.
  • To make the orange frosting, put the confectioners' sugar in a small bowl, and beat in the orange juice 1 tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached. Spread over the cooled bars. Cut bars into diamond shapes, and place cinnamon candies on top then sprinkle with the green sugar.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 135.2 calories, Carbohydrate 26.5 g, Cholesterol 7.4 mg, Fat 3.3 g, Fiber 0.9 g, Protein 1.7 g, SaturatedFat 1.3 g, Sodium 39.5 mg, Sugar 17.3 g

Tips:

  • Use fresh ingredients: The fresher the ingredients, the better the flavor of your Lebkuchen spice bars will be.
  • Don't overmix the batter: Overmixing the batter will result in tough, dense bars. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
  • Let the bars cool completely before cutting them: This will help to prevent them from crumbling.
  • Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature: They will keep for up to 2 weeks.
  • Enjoy! Lebkuchen spice bars are a delicious and festive treat that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

Conclusion:

Lebkuchen spice bars are a classic German Christmas cookie that is easy to make and always a hit. With their warm, spicy flavor and chewy texture, these bars are sure to become a holiday favorite. So next time you're looking for a festive treat to bake, give Lebkuchen spice bars a try. You won't be disappointed.

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