Recipes Cuisine European German Holiday Lebkuchen (German Spice Cookies) 3.8 (4) 4 Reviews 2 Photos Since my mother's parents came from Nuremberg and Munich, Germany, lebkuchen has been a holiday tradition in my family ever since I was little. We don't like the usual candied citrus peel, however, so I use apricots and dates instead. Great served with hot tea. Submitted by Shae's Mama Published on June 18, 2020 Save Rate Print Share Close Add Photo Prep Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 15 mins Additional Time: 8 hrs Total Time: 8 hrs 55 mins Servings: 36 Yield: 3 dozen cookies Jump to Nutrition Facts Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 2 cups whole almonds boiling water to cover ⅔ cup chopped dried apricots 8 Medjool dates, pitted and chopped 4 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 2 teaspoons ground ginger 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon ground cloves ½ teaspoon ground cardamom ½ teaspoon salt 2 eggs 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup honey ¼ cup blackstrap molasses 1 tablespoon water 2 teaspoons almond extract 2 teaspoons grated orange zest 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest ¾ cup confectioners' sugar 2 tablespoons whole milk 1 teaspoon lemon zest Directions Cover almonds with boiling water in a bowl. Let stand for 1 to 2 minutes and drain. Rinse with cold water and drain again. Pat almonds dry and remove skin. Allow almonds to dry on paper towels. Place half the almonds in a food processor; pulse until finely chopped. Add apricots and dates; pulse until fruit is chopped. Reserve remaining 1 cup almonds. Combine flour, cinnamon, ginger, baking powder, cloves, cardamom, and salt in bowl. Beat eggs, brown sugar, honey, molasses, water, almond extract, orange zest, and 1 teaspoon lemon zest in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add apricot mixture, blending until evenly distributed. Gradually stir in flour mixture on medium speed until dough comes together. Cover dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 8 hours to overnight. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll out to about 1/2-inch thick. Cut out cookies with a 2 1/2 to 3-inch diameter cookie cutter. Arrange cookies about 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets. Lightly press 3 almonds into each cookie with tips towards the center to create a star pattern. Bake in preheated oven until cookies begin to brown, about 12 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool on a wire rack. Meanwhile, whisk confectioners' sugar, milk, and 1 teaspoon lemon zest in a bowl until glaze is smooth. Brush warm cookies with glaze and allow cookies to cool completely. I Made It Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 188 Calories 5g Fat 35g Carbs 4g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 36 Calories 188 % Daily Value * Total Fat 5g 6% Saturated Fat 0g 2% Cholesterol 10mg 3% Sodium 61mg 3% Total Carbohydrate 35g 13% Dietary Fiber 2g 7% Total Sugars 20g Protein 4g 8% Vitamin C 0mg 0% Calcium 50mg 4% Iron 1mg 8% Potassium 168mg 4% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. ** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data. (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.