Traditional German Lebkuchen Spice Cookies
Ingredients:
For the Cookies:
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup molasses
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 large egg
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon orange zest
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 cup finely chopped nuts such as almonds or hazelnuts
For the Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
2-3 tablespoons milk or lemon juice
Directions:
Prepare the Wet Ingredients:
In a medium saucepan, warm the honey and molasses over low heat until smooth and slightly runny. Remove from heat and stir in the brown sugar, egg, lemon zest, and orange zest until the mixture is smooth and well-combined.
Combine Dry Ingredients:
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, and ginger.
Mix the Dough:
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the honey-molasses mixture, stirring until just combined. Fold in the chopped nuts for added texture and flavor.
Chill the Dough:
Cover the dough and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight. Chilling helps the flavors meld together and makes the dough easier to handle.
Preheat the Oven:
Preheat your oven to 350F 175C. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
Form the Cookies:
Roll the dough into small balls about 1 inch each and place them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches of space between each cookie.
Bake:
Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden but the centers are still soft. Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
Glaze the Cookies:
In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and milk or lemon juice to make a smooth glaze. Drizzle or brush the glaze over the cooled cookies and let it set before serving.