Lebkuchen (German Gingerbread)
This is an old family recipe which I got from my mother. These cookies tend to be softer than traditional gingerbread, so they are very tasty when eaten alone or lightly iced, but are not stiff enough to decorate or use for gingerbread houses.
This is an old family recipe which I got from my mother. These cookies tend to be softer than traditional gingerbread, so they are very tasty when eaten alone or lightly iced, but are not stiff enough to decorate or use for gingerbread houses.
- Carbohydrate 8.19191283854167 g
- Cholesterol 4.40625 mg
- Fat 0.209685703125 g
- Fiber 0.361089065735849 g
- Protein 1.19695119791667 g
- Saturated Fat 0.049977078125 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (12g)
- Sodium 13.0790182291667 mg
- Sugar 7.83082377280582 g
- Trans Fat 0.0517839296875 g
- Calories 40 calories
Step-by-step
- In a medium bowl, mix together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and all spices.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together shortening and sugar. Add molasses and egg and beat well.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet, stirring to form thick dough.
- Chill one hour.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out 1/4 inch thick.
- Cut into shapes (hearts, etc).
- Place the cookies 1 inch apart on a greased cookie sheet.
- Bake 5 – 6 minutes at 375°F (Do NOT overbake!).
- Cool slightly, then remove to rack to cool completely.
The Critical Six-Minute Bake
Baking these cookies requires strict adherence to the 375 degrees Fahrenheit oven temperature because the high sugar and molasses content burns rapidly once the moisture evaporates. Pull the batch at five to six minutes when the edges just barely set while the center remains soft to the touch, ensuring the final texture stays tender rather than crisp. Watch the oven light closely during those final seconds since visual cues dictate doneness far more accurately than kitchen clocks.
The Impact of Fresh Spices
Ground cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg lose their volatile aromatic oils within months of opening, making older jars taste flat and dusty in spiced baked goods. Purchasing whole spices and grating them immediately before mixing releases maximum aromatic potency, which transforms a standard cookie into a deeply fragrant holiday treat. When adjusting quantities for large gatherings, scale all dry aromatics linearly, but monitor moisture levels closely as wet ingredients do not always double at a strict one-to-one ratio.
Chilling and Rolling Dynamics
Resting the dough in the refrigerator for sixty minutes solidifies the shortening so the mass rolls out cleanly without sticking to the work surface. Roll the dough to a precise quarter-inch thickness to maintain structural integrity, as thinner sheets bake too quickly and lose their signature pillowy bite.
