Lebkuchen are deliciously spiced, chewy cookie bars full of cinnamon and ginger flavor and topped with an orange ginger glaze. The spicy flavor develops over time, improving day by day if you can resist eating them!
I am an enthusiastic magnet for all things international. In high school I had the unlikely opportunity to befriend new immigrant classmates from Uganda.
Unlikely, because I went to high school in South Carolina at a time when the student body was definitely not multicultural. Before long, the Ugandan girls were members of my Senior Girl Scout troop and I was given lessons in wrapping a sari!
In college, long before Junior year abroad programs were common or popular, I immersed myself in Guatemalan culture for 9 months working in a Guatemala City daycare center and learning back strap loom weaving from an indigenous woman in a rural village.
In the years that followed I have met wonderful people and my life has been immeasurably enriched through friendship with individuals and families from Kenya, Peru, Japan, China, and Bosnia. I find it fascinating and so much fun to learn about cultures, languages, and ethnic foods.
Unintentionally, my “international magnet” has influenced my Monday Box posts. I have already posted recipes from Australia, Scotland, Russia, Italy, and Eastern Europe.
Though I am obviously drawn to multicultural cookies, a delicious care package recipe is a delicious care package recipe wherever it may come from.
This recipe for Lebkuchen more than qualifies, as the bars are both delicious and fabulous for short or long distance sharing.
We are sometimes seasonal eaters having nothing to do with seasonally available ingredients. Some people only eat chocolate mint at Christmas. (Don’t tell that to the Girl Scouts or the Andes Mints Company.)
Some people only eat red velvet around Valentine’s Day. (I personally could do without red velvet altogether.) So I know that sharing a classic German Christmas cookie in February will raise some eyebrows, but I have several good reasons.
First, I only recently tried Lebkuchen, several weeks after the Christmas baking frenzy had ended. Lebkuchen is like a moist and cakey gingerbread and I love gingerbread. Waiting until next December to write about these bars was not an option.
Second, Lebkuchen may be the quintessential care package cookie/bar. They not only stays fresh for months but it actually improves with time! If you like a chewy bar/cookie and you like cinnamon and ginger, you will LOVE Lebkuchen.
The original recipe comes from The Good Cookie by Tish Boyle. I love Ms Boyle’s cookbooks because I find the recipes to be reliably delicious.
This one is no exception. I changed one thing in the directions because I admit to being on the overly cautious side when it comes to food poisoning potential.
The original directions call for letting the dough stand at room temperature overnight. With a raw egg in there, that just wasn’t happening at my house. I refrigerated my dough overnight then allowed it to come to room temperature before spreading it in the baking pan.
I don’t know if this had an effect on the ripening of the spices. I found the Lebkuchen bars were plenty spice-filled using the refrigeration method. I also changed the spices quite a bit for personal taste.
My version uses only cinnamon and ginger. If you are interested in trying the original traditional spices, the original recipe calls for 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground cardamom, ½ teaspoon ground cloves, ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, ½ teaspoon ground ginger.
Whichever version you choose, these chewy bars, full of spicy warmth, will disappear from the cookie tin long before their freshness diminishes.
Military Care Package Note: Lebkuchen are the best bar I have found to make the long journey in care packages to deployed military. However, because they contain butter and honey, I do not recommend them for hot weather shipping and have not labeled them “desert safe”.
More German cookies
Marzipan Cookies are frequently found at German Christmas markets during the holiday season. In just a few minutes, with just a handful of ingredients, you can bake a batch of these chewy treats. Plus, they are gluten free.
Pfeffernusse are favorite cookies at Christmas time! These spiced cookies have a cake-like texture and are covered with a confectioners' sugar glaze.
Spekulatius are crunchy cookies often made with cookie molds. If you love Biscoff cookies, you will love these!
Marzipan Springerle are a cross between a cookie and candy. Unlike traditional springerle, these treats are pure almond marzipan embossed with beautiful designs.
Lebkuchen and a hot cup of coffee, tea, or chocolate might help you forget about winter, at least for a few moments! Share some bars in cold weather care packages for a special spiced treat.
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Lebkuchen Bars
Ingredients
Bar dough
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup dark brown sugar packed
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 1 teaspoon orange zest finely grated (I used a microplane.)
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup sliced unblanched almonds optional
- ⅓ cup candied orange peel finely chopped, optional
Glaze
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- ¼ teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a large saucepan over medium low heat, make a sugar syrup by stirring together honey, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and butter. (Note: Though these ingredients don’t call for a large saucepan, you will eventually mix in the dry ingredients as well.)Continue stirring until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 15 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and ginger.
- Add the egg, orange juice, orange zest, vanilla, and (if using) almonds and orange peel to the cooled honey-sugar mixture. Stir to combine.
- Add the flour mixture and stir to combine, forming a sticky dough.
- The lebkuchen dough may be left in the saucepan for refrigeration or transferred to a large bowl. Place one piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the dough and another piece over the top of the saucepan/bowl. Refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
- When ready to bake: Heat oven to 350˚F. Butter and flour a 9”x 9” baking pan.
- Remove the dough from the refrigerator and allow the dough to come to room temperature (about 30 minutes).
- Spread the dough evenly in the prepared pan.
- Bake for 20-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- While the Lebkuchen is baking, in a medium bowl, mix together the glaze ingredients until smooth.
- Remove the pan of bars from the oven and place on a wire rack.
- Using a pastry brush or spatula, spread the glaze evenly over the warm bars.
- Let the Lebkuchen cool completely and the glaze set before cutting into bars and storing.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 month. These bars may be eaten immediately but the flavor improves over time and are best when eaten at least 1-2 weeks after baking.
Notes
- This traditional lebkuchen recipe makes an especially good care package treat, as it stays fresh (and even improves) for a long time.
- Though lebkuchen cookies and bars are a traditional holiday treat enjoyed during the Christmas season, these cinnamon ginger bars can be enjoyed all year!
- A variety of candied citrus peel, such as lemon peel, can also be used.
- Double wrap pairs of bars, bottoms together in plastic wrap then place in an airtight plastic container.
- Alternately, bars can be placed in an airtight container in layers separated by waxed paper or parchment paper.
- Use crinkled waxed paper on top if needed to prevent any movement inside the container during transit.
- Wrap the container in plastic wrap to improve airtightness.
Nutrition
Jocelyn@Brucrewlife
These sound amazing!! That glaze is calling my name!! Mmmm!!
themondaybox
Thanks, Jocelyn! The glaze called my name too! Originally when I made the bars, I thought at first that the recipe made "too much" glaze. The glaze pooled in the center of the pan and was thicker on the inside bars. Those bars were my favorites! There is no such thing as "too much" of this glaze!
Ashley
These are so interesting (and delicious!) sounding! I really love cinnamon and ginger ... and of course chewy bars ... so these are going to need to be tried! One of my really good friends loves all things german so I'll have to make them for her ... impress her and all that : ) haha
themondaybox
Thanks, Ashley! You German friend might prefer the original spice mix but I love these with just the warm flavors of cinnamon and ginger. You will be amazed with the chewy texture on these. Weeks later they are still chewy and the flavor is only getting better!
cinnamonmoon
I had these on my baking list for Christmas and never got to them! What a shame because they look like something I would have an intense love for. I don't know why we all don't bake gingerbread after Christmas! It's still winter and those warm spices are lovely for warming up our insides with a cup of tea.
themondaybox
Exactly, Reeni! The warming spices in these bars are just what's called for in this crazy cold weather. Give them a try. I think you will love them!
crazyforcrust
Oh my gosh I bet these are fabulous!
themondaybox
Thanks, Dorothy! I don't understand why, but they get better the longer they sit....if you don't eat them first!
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain
Ooooo I would love an international care package that included these cookies! Cinnamon and ginger sounds like a fabulous combo for sure. 😀 They look fabulous, Wendy (as per usual!).
themondaybox
Thanks, Jess! With all of your blustery weather lately, I think you deserve a chewy bar (or six or seven) full of warming spice! The beauty of these is you can bake them, stick them in a tin, then enjoy them day after day....until you have to bake some more! 🙂
Chris @ The Café Sucré Farine
Certain things know no season. This looks like one of them!
themondaybox
Thanks, Chris! I, for one, will happily bake/eat these bars year round!
Mrs. DeYarmond
Give me ginger bar with orange, and I'm your girl !
You always manage to make some amazing bars, I can't figure out how you find inspiration for that. I'm thrilled !!
Thanks for being a huge kind of inspiration Wendy ! Lots of love xxx
ps : weight and measures is going to be renamed as Easy Bakery !
themondaybox
Thanks,Sarah! I find these bars to be very addicting! Something about the chewiness and the spices makes it hard to leave them alone.:) The recipe is adapted from a great cookbook. The next time you are in the US (or are willing to pay Amazon shipping) I highly recommend you pick up a copy!
Exciting changes for the new Easy Bakery! Though, being familiar with your baking talents, Gorgeous Bakery would also work! 🙂
Mrs. DeYarmond
US this summer, as usual 🙂 But maybe the west coast this year ! I will sure try to find that book ! I always came back from USA with amazing cookbooks, better than the french ones (what ? me a huge american lover ? :))
Ohhh my you're so sweet !! Easy Bakery sounds easier. It was obvious that I would change for another english name, and Easy Bakery sounds perfect ! I'm so grateful to hear about your suggestion for my blog (maybe not really modest haha). You were one of my first reader and I'm so glad you'll be still here for a new part of the adventure.
Lots of love !
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl
Love the flavor that is happening in these bars. They have to smell amazing too!
themondaybox
Thanks, Pamela! You are right. The warm spicy smell is almost as good as the flavor! 🙂
Laura Dembowski (@piesandplots)
Lebkuchen cookies are some of my favorites. I cannot wait to try these bars. They look so chewy and yummy!
themondaybox
Thanks, Laura! I am so glad there are people who know what lebkuchen is!! I only recently became a huge lebkuchen fan. 🙂 I am not sure what is better...the chewiness or the gingerbread-like flavor!
Mama's Gotta Bake
Having lived near big cities all my life, I appreciate being exposed to all things multi-cultural, especially food. These look amazingly delicious, and I love the combination of ingredients and spices. I will most definitely give them a try.
themondaybox
Thanks, Sheryl! Looking back, the sharing of food/recipes has been an important part of my international friendships. There are a bunch of ethnic foods we eat regularly, that were introduced to us by friends. Big cities do have a wonderful variety of multicultural offerings!
I hope you will let me know what you think of these bars. They are a lot like gingerbread with a note of citrus and an accent on ginger. 🙂
Courtney Lopez
I love the combination of ginger and cinnamon, hello orange! I can't wait to try these 🙂
themondaybox
Thanks, Courtney! I hope you enjoy them! The fact that they stay fresh for months is irrelevant at my house. They get eaten too quickly! Great for sending in care packages though!
Danielle @ TheCharmItSpot
These look great!
themondaybox
Thanks! They are so good now, I can't wait to see what they are like in a few weeks when the spices have "aged" and the bars are supposed to taste even better!!
Danielle @ TheCharmItSpot
These look and sound delicious! Thanks so much for sharing, my taste buds are watering now! haha
themondaybox
Thanks, Danielle! Be kind to your taste buds and bake them a batch! 🙂
gottagetbaked
These bars with that glaze sound incredible! I love cinnamon/ginger/orange combo and would probably make it with the original spice list since I love spicy desserts. Thanks for the tip about refrigerating overnight. I would be freaked out about leaving it on my counter too!
themondaybox
Thanks, Nancy! I know that food bloggers say this all the time, but I couldn't stop eating these! The bars are so chewy and full of flavor and the glaze adds a burst of incredible. 🙂 I have one batch for mailing wrapped tightly so that I am not tempted to grab a bar. Another batch was devoured during the photo shoot ("This one is ugly. I better eat it. This one isn't cut straight. I better eat it. I wonder how they taste after an hour photo shoot. I better eat it.) All of the ginger and cinnamon made these very "spiced" just different "spiced" than the original.
captnmike
Reblogged this on Mumbling Mike and commented:
I have not tried these yet, but they are close enough to my Oatmeal Cow Pie Cookies that I think I will like them, I will probably try some of the original recipe spices. So if I Reblog this then I will not loose the recipe.
themondaybox
I hope you love them as much as I do, Mike! There is no oatmeal in these...I will have to google Oatmeal Cow Pie Cookies because though the name is...questionable...you have me intrigued!
mike
If you lived on a farm you would understand the reference as that is sort of what the cookies look like
Here is the link: http://mumblingmike.wordpress.com/2011/12/12/oatmeal-cow-pie-cookies/
I also recommend the Deviled Eggs: http://mumblingmike.wordpress.com/2011/11/01/mikes-deviled-eggs/
I stumbled across your recipe and was going to save the link or print the instructions out, both of which tend to get lost around my place, then it dawned on me that I had my Mumbling blog and I remembered that I usually need to print out the recipes from the site from time to time after I loose them or change them a bit. So my theory was if I Rebloged the recipe I would not loose it, I was very proud of myself!! 🙂
Thanks again for your recipe
themondaybox
You are certainly welcome for the recipe! 🙂 I really did become addicted to those bars. I did understand the cow pie reference....that's why I didn't find it.....appetizing?! 🙂 I totally agree that putting a recipe on a blog is the best way not to lose it in the sea of papers that is part of life (my life, anyway!) I would love to know what you think of the bars when you have a chance to bake them. 🙂