Description
Delight in the rich, spiced flavors of classic German Lebkuchen with this Brown Butter & Cardamom recipe. These heart, star, and gingerbread-shaped cookies combine nutty browned butter with warm spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves, perfectly complemented by a sweet honey and icing sugar glaze. Ideal for festive occasions, these soft, aromatic treats come decorated with a delicate royal icing, adding a beautiful finishing touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 100g salted butter
- 150g light brown soft sugar
- 200ml honey
- 350g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
- 100g ground almonds
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ tsp ground allspice
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- Pinch of ground mace
- Pinch of ground nutmeg
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 egg
- 1 lemon, zested
Icing
- 200g icing sugar, sifted
- 1 egg white
Instructions
- Brown the Butter: Tip the butter into a saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, continue cooking until the butter foams and the milk solids turn golden brown and smell nutty, about 7 minutes, stirring regularly. Remove from the heat and stir in the sugar and honey. Return to low heat and cook for another 3-5 minutes until the sugar has fully dissolved. Set aside to cool slightly.
- Mix Dry Ingredients and Combine: In a large bowl, combine the plain flour, ground almonds, ground cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, ginger, mace, nutmeg, cocoa powder, baking powder, and bicarbonate of soda. Whisk the egg into the cooled butter mixture, then pour into the dry ingredients along with the lemon zest. Mix well to form a smooth dough ball.
- Chill the Dough: Wrap or cover the dough and place it in the refrigerator for 1 hour to firm up, making it easier to roll and cut.
- Prepare for Baking: Lightly dust a clean work surface with flour, and line two large baking trays with baking parchment. Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan)/Gas Mark 4.
- Roll and Cut Shapes: Remove the dough from the fridge and roll it out to about 1cm thickness. Using cookie cutters in heart, gingerbread person, and star shapes sized 5-8cm, stamp out the lebkuchen. If desired, use a skewer to poke a small hole near the top to hang the finished cookies later. Place the cutouts spaced evenly on the prepared baking trays.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 13-15 minutes until golden around the edges and just set. Allow them to cool completely on the trays.
- Prepare Icing: Whisk together the sifted icing sugar and egg white until smooth and pipeable. Transfer the icing into a piping bag for decorating.
- Decorate and Set: Pipe your desired designs onto the cooled lebkuchen. Allow the icing to set at room temperature for at least 1 hour before storing.
- Storage: Store the iced lebkuchen in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days, preserving freshness and flavor.
Notes
- Browned butter adds a rich, nutty flavor essential for authentic lebkuchen.
- Ensure the dough is well chilled before rolling to prevent sticking and ease cutting.
- Use a skewer to pierce holes for hanging ornaments before baking.
- The royal icing sets hard, making these cookies perfect for decorating gifts or tree ornaments.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container to maintain their softness and flavor for several days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: German
Keywords: lebkuchen, German cookies, brown butter cookies, cardamom lebkuchen, Christmas cookies, spiced cookies, holiday baking, royal icing decoration
