How to Make Monika's Oma's Lebkuchen Men - A Step-by-Step Guide

There's nothing quite like the warmth and comfort of a homemade recipe that has been passed down through generations. Monika's Oma's Lebkuchen Men is one such recipe that comes from the heart of Germany and has been handed down through Monika's family for years. These traditional German spice cookies are a Christmas staple, and for good reason - their rich flavor and tender texture make them an irresistible treat for the holidays.

Lebkuchen Men, also known as German gingerbread cookie...

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups ground almonds
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 6 ½ tablespoons butter
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 1 egg
  • 1 ½ cups confectioners' sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 2 tablespoons boiling water, or as needed

Information

  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 15 mins
  • Additional Time: 2 hrs 25 mins
  • Total Time: 3 hrs
  • Servings: 30
  • Yield: 30 gingerbread cookies

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two baking sheets.
  • Mix ground almonds, flour, white sugar, 2 teaspoons cocoa powder, cinnamon, cloves, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. Use your fingers or a pastry blender to rub in the butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Add honey and egg; mix together to form a dough.
  • Dust work surface with flour. Roll out dough into a circle about 1/8-inch thick. Cut into gingerbread men shapes with a floured cookie cutter. Place 2 inches apart on baking sheets.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until edges are brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool in the pan 1 to 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely, about 20 minutes.
  • Combine confectioners' sugar and 2 tablespoons cocoa powder in a bowl. Mix in enough boiling water to make a smooth and spreadable icing. Spread icing on cooled cookies using a table knife. Set aside until icing hardens, about 2 hours.
  • Nutrition

    160 cal.

    • Total Fat: 9g
    • Saturated Fat: 2g
    • Cholesterol: 13mg
    • Sodium: 68mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 19g
    • Dietary Fiber: 2g
    • Total Sugars: 12g
    • Protein: 3g
    • Calcium: 38mg
    • Iron: 1mg
    • Potassium: 102mg