Lebkuchen

from Family Circle

Lebkuchen
Yield: 3-1/2 dozen Prep 20 mins Chill 1 hr Bake 400°F 7 mins per batch

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup molasses
  • 3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup candied orange rind pieces
  • 1/2 cup sliced almonds
  • 1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 42 whole blanched almonds
  • Glaze:
  • 1 cup confectioners sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
  • 2 tablespoons water

Make It

1. Combine honey, molasses, brown sugar and butter in saucepan. Cook over medium heat until sugar melts and mixture almost comes to a boil. Stir in candied orange rind, sliced almonds and lemon rind. Cool slightly. Stir in egg.

2. Stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves and allspice in bowl. Stir into honey mixture. Wrap dough in plastic wrap; refrigerate 1 to 2 hours.

3. Heat oven to 400 degrees F.

4. Pinch off dough into 1-inch balls. Place on lightly greased baking sheets, spacing 3 inches apart. Using fingertips, press each lightly to 1/4-inch thickness. (If sticky, wet fingers.) Place almond in center of each cookie.

5. Bake in 400 degree F oven until firm in center and wooden pick inserted comes out not quite clean, 7 to 9 minutes.

Glaze:

6. Stir together sugar, lemon extract and 2 tablespoons water in bowl until good spreading consistency, adding more water as needed. Spread glaze on warm cookies. Place on wire racks to cool. Makes about 3 1/2 dozen.

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