Chocolate Lebkuchen Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange backoblaten (German baking wafers) on top, leaving a 1-inch space between them.
• Combine almond flour, sugar, eggs, ground hazelnuts, candied lemon and orange peel, ground cinnamon, vanilla sugar, and ground cloves and mix into a firm dough.
• Shape mixture into balls. Arrange balls on the prepared wafers; press gently to flatten into 1/2-inch-high rounds.
• Bake in the preheated oven until light brown in color, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Place chocolate in top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes. Cover the top of each lebkuchen with chocolate.

Steps:

• Combine sugar, honey and water in a large saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil, then remove from the heat and set aside to cool. In a medium bowl, stir together the honey mixture with the chocolate chips, almonds, candied fruit, eggs, and orange juice. Sift together the flour, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, baking soda and baking powder; stir into the fruit and nut mixture. Tightly cover the bowl, and refrigerate for 2 to 3 days to blend the flavors.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan. Spread the dough evenly into the prepared pan.
• Bake for 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven. Cool and frost with the orange frosting.
• To make the orange frosting, put the confectioners' sugar in a small bowl, and beat in the orange juice 1 tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached. Spread over the cooled bars. Cut bars into diamond shapes, and place cinnamon candies on top then sprinkle with the green sugar.

Steps:

• Tip the dry ingredients into a large bowl. Heat the honey and butter in a pan over a low heat until the butter melts, then pour into the flour mixture along with the lemon zest. Mix well until the dough is combined and fairly solid. Cover and leave to cool.
• Heat oven to 180C/fan160C/gas 4. Using your hands, roll dough into about 30 balls, each 3cm wide, then flatten each one slightly into a disk. Divide the biscuits between two baking trays lined with baking parchment, leaving room for them to expand. Bake for 15 mins, then cool on a wire rack.
• To ice the biscuits, mix together the icing sugar, egg white and 1-2 tbsp water to form a smooth, runny icing. Dip the top of each biscuit in the icing and spread with the back of a knife. Leave to dry out in a warm room.

Steps:

• Honey bars:
• Heat honey and water in a large heavy saucepan until runny. Remove from heat, and stir in butter until melted. Transfer mixture to a large bowl and stir in brown sugar, eggs, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, spices, and salt.
• Add the flour mixture to the honey mixture and stir just until combined. Add almonds, citron, and candied orange peel. Stir until the dough is smooth. Cover the dough tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 24 hours or up to 1 month.
• When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper so it extends over the 2 long sides.
• Firmly press the dough into the prepared pan to form a smooth, even layer. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean, about 30 minutes.
• Citrus glaze and decoration:
• In a medium bowl, beat together powdered sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla until smooth. While the lebkuchen is still warm, spread glaze evenly over the top.
• Mark into bars by cutting into the lebkuchen about ¼ inch deep with a knife. Decorate, if desired, by placing 1 candied cherry in the center of each bar. And arrange 4 blanched almonds around each cherry.
• Let stand in the pan on a rack until completely cool and the icing is set. Using the overhanging parchment as handles, transfer to a cutting board. Cut into bars. If possible, let the cookies age for at least 2 weeks to allow the spices to ripen. Lebkuchen will keep for months in an airtight container.

Steps:

• Sift the flour, cinnamon, cloves, seeds, baking soda and powder together and set aside.
• Bring sugar, honey and water to boil in saucepan over moderate heat.
• Stir the chocolate, walnuts, fruit, eggs, and orange juice into honey mixture until blended.
• Blend the flour mixture in gradually.
• Store dough in tightly covered dish, at room temperature, for 3 days, to ripen.
• Preheat oven to 325°F
• Spread dough in greased 15" x 10" X 1" pan and bake at 325 F for 35 to 40 minutes.
• Cool. Wrap in foil and store till ready to use. (This keeps very well for weeks and improves in flavor on storing).
• When ready to use, unwrap, and sust with confectioners' sugar. Cut in 3" x 1" bars.

Steps:

• 1. Mix together in a saucepan and bring to a boil the honey, molasses,and corn syrup. Cool completely. Stir in brown sugar,eggs,lemon juice, and rind, mixing well. Set aside. Sift together the flour ,cocoa,cinnamon, cloves,allspice and nutmeg. Mix in citron and nuts. Combine the sugar and flour mixture and add the baking soda with the water,using dough hook to mix well. Add more flour to make a stiff dough to roll. Chill dough overnight. Roll small amount at a time, keeping rest chilled. Roll out 3/8 inch thick and cut into oblongs 1 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches. Place 1 inch apart on greased baking sheet. Bake in 350^ oven for 12-15 minutes. Bake until when touched lightly with your finger no imprint remains. Brush the following glaze on the hot cookies as soon as they come out of the oven. --- Glaze:--this should be very thin as it sets up fast Boil together: 1 c. granulated sugar 1/2 c. water until sugar dissolves, and reaches 230^. Then remove from heat and add: 1/4 c. powdered sugar or more Brush hot icing THINLY and QUICKLY over cookies, and place 1 or 2 half almond slice on each cookie. If icing gets to thick, reheat slightly, add a teaspoon or more hot water.
• 2. It's good to have the kids help out here with the nuts or even the brushing on of the icing.