Lebkuchen is a German Christmas cookie made with spices, flour, eggs, and sweetener. The Nuremberg version is famous, with a wafer underneath and covered in dark chocolate. It is a protected geographical indication and can only be produced by guild members within Nuremberg’s city limits. Other types of Lebkuchen include brown Lebkuchen, which does not have a wafer and is not covered in chocolate, and some recipes contain nuts and raisins. Lebkuchen is used to make various items, including witch houses, horses, and heart-shaped cookies. It is available to order online and in some bakeries worldwide.
Lebkuchen is a German cookie that resembles a soft gingerbread. It is traditionally a Christmas treat, with Franconian monks credited with inventing the German version of this sweet and spicy delicacy. There are many styles, but one of the most famous is the kind that is made in Nuremberg, Germany, has a wafer underneath and is covered in dark chocolate. The biscuits are also used to make cookies decorated in the shape of hearts and witch houses, both of which are found in German markets.
For many years, Nuremberg has been home to a guild of bakers who produce all the traditional Nuremberg lebkuchen. They are produced in factories and small bakeries and are a protected geographical indication. Having this designation means that it is the only type that can be labeled “Nuremberg lebkuchen”. Furthermore, these can only be produced by guild members within the Nuremberg city limits.
There are other types of lebkuchen as well. Brown lebkuchen does not have a wafer underneath and is not covered in chocolate or other substances. Some recipes contain nuts and raisins. Others are filled with jams and jellies. Numerous changes have been made to the recipe by various bakers over the years, but the recipe used by the German guild is kept secret.
The main ingredients of lebkuchen are spices, flour, eggs and some kind of sweetener. In the early days of baking, sugar was much more expensive and much harder to find. Consequently, honey was used as a substitute sweetener. Various types of nuts such as hazelnuts, almonds and walnuts can be used. Some of the spices used are cinnamon, ginger, cloves and cardamom.
Many German markets contain various items made from lebkuchen. Witch houses, which are modeled on the story of Hansel and Gretel, are made with it. Also, a harder version of the cookie is baked, usually in the shape of a heart, and is decorated with icing, then gifted. Horses are also molded from dough and decorated with icing, just like a gingerbread man.
It is possible to order lebkuchen on the Internet and in some bakeries around the world. It is most easily found during the Christmas season, as it is a traditional German Christmas gift. Many people even make their own, using recipes they’ve found on the internet or have been passed down through their family.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
