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A plate of homemade Lebkuchen cookies are presented on a red and white striped table cloth next to three mugs of hot chocolate. Some of the Lebkuchen cookies are covered in a glaze while others are covered in a chocolate glaze. They are all topped with slivered almonds.
Nuremberg Lebkuchen (German Christmas Cookies)
Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
 

Nuremberg Lebkuchen are traditional German Christmas cookies filled with warm spices and nutty flavor and topped with a delicious glaze.

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: German
Servings: 24 cookies
Author: Gemma Stafford
Ingredients
For the Cookies
  • 1 cup (4 oz/115 g) almond flour
  • 1 cup (4 oz/115 g) hazelnut flour
  • 1 cup (5 oz/142 g) candied mixed peel
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon cloves
  • teaspoon ginger
  • teaspoon anise
  • teaspoon allspice
  • teaspoon coriander
  • teaspoon cardamom
  • teaspoon nutmeg
  • ½ cup (3 oz/85 g) dark brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 24 Back Oblaten (wafer paper), 2-3 inches (70 mm) wide
For the Chocolate Glaze
  • cup chopped bittersweet chocolate (2 oz/57 g)
  • ½ teaspoon vegetable oil
For the Sugar Glaze
  • ½ cup (2 oz/57 g) powdered sugar
  • tablespoons whole milk
  • 1 cup (5 oz/142 g) slivered almonds, for decorating
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C) and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.

To Make the Cookies
  1. In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the almond flour, hazelnut flour, candied peel, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, cloves, ginger, anise, allspice, coriander, cardamom, and nutmeg until the peel is finely minced.

  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, eggs, honey, and vanilla extract. Add this to the nut mixture and pulse until combined. Transfer to a medium bowl and stir a few times to ensure everything is evenly combined.

  3. Lay 12 Back Oblaten wafers on each baking sheet.

  4. Roll about 1½ tablespoons of the nut mixture into a ball, then flatten slightly and place on top of a wafer. Repeat with the remaining nut mixture.

  5. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the cookies are slightly puffed and baked through. Let cool completely on a wire rack before glazing.

To Make the Chocolate Glaze
  1. Combine the chocolate and oil in a double boiler over simmering water and melt, stirring frequently. You can also microwave the chocolate for 20 seconds at a time, stirring in between.

To Make Sugar Glaze
  1. In a small bowl, stir the powdered sugar and milk together until smooth.

  2. Dip half the cookies in each glaze, then decorate with a few slivered almonds. Let set completely before storing in an airtight container for up to 3 days.