Honey Spice Biscuits
Here's a great recipe for spice biscuits, known as lebkuchen in German. This recipe make a lot so they're perfect as a food gift at Christmas.
Ingredients
Serves: 84
- 3 cups (750ml) honey
- 2 1/4 cups (400g) packed brown sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 8 1/4 cups (1kg) plain flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons bicarb soda
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 cup chopped mxed peel
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 2 cups sliced almonds
- 1 1/2 cups (330g) white sugar
- 3/4 cup (190ml) water
- 1/3 cup (60g) sifted icing sugar
Directions
Preparation:40min ›
Cook:10min ›
Extra time:8hours chilling ›
Ready in:8hours50min
- Bring honey to a boil in a large casserole dish; remove from heat and cool slightly. Stir in brown sugar, beaten eggs, lemon rind and juice.
- Combine flour, bicarb soda and spices in a large mixing bowl; gradually add to honey mixture, stirring well. Stir in peel and chopped pecans, blending well. Cover and chill overnight.
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees C.
- Shape dough into 3cm balls; place 5cm apart on greased baking trays. Gently press ball to 5mm thickness with bottom of a glass dipped in cool water. Gently press an almond slice in the center of each biscuit. Bake for about 10 minutes. Remove baking trays from oven. Brush glaze over biscuits and remove to wire racks to cool.
- To Make Glaze: Combine 1 1/2 cups sugar and water in a small heavy saucepan; cook over low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Cook over high heat without stirring until mixture reaches thread stage. Remove from heat; stir in icing sugar, mixing well. Place over low heat if necessary to maintain basting consistency.
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Reviews and Ratings
Global Ratings:
(6)
Reviews in English (6)
I understand different areas of Germany had different recipes and I really looked forward to Christmas as that was when we got Lebkuckens from Gramma. Her recipe did not have citron! instead she used anise, molasses and hazelnut and dough was refrigerator before working. Her Lebkuchens were my favorite cookie and they were made with so much love. - 08 Oct 2009 (Review from Allrecipes USA and Canada)
My Stepdads Mother use to make these for him a long long time ago. He's been baking cookies all weekend and can't stop thinking about these cookies. I think I just made his holiday bright! Thank You so much and Merry Christmas! - 21 Dec 2008 (Review from Allrecipes USA and Canada)
As a military family, who lived in Germany, these are traditional. They harden over night, so store them in an airtight container with a slice of apple. This will keep them soft. I made the glaze in a double boiler, this allowed me to keep it warm and not burn it. I didn't get the glaze up to 230 as suggested, but I did get it up to 200. It turned out fine. I substituted candied pineapple for the citron, since that was the only candied fruit available this time of year. It gave the cookies a nice citrus flavor. I may even try candied ginger in the future. My mom also told me, after I made them, that you can substitute orange zest and juice for the lemon. This recipe is a definite keeper. - 13 Feb 2014 (Review from Allrecipes USA and Canada)
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