German Gingerbread Cookies (Lebkuchen)
Traditional German gingerbread cookies, also known as Lebkuchen in German, are generally soft, chewy, and spicy, and come in many different flavors and sizes. Think gingerbread houses, hearts, or gingerbread men. This authentic German recipe is all you need this Christmas season and it’s so simple, that even the kids can do it. No fancy ingredients such as molasses or potash are needed. It’s my family’s go-to gingerbread recipe and I hope it’ll become yours too!
German gingerbread is traditionally made with honey, spices, ground nuts, rye flour, and citrus, while American gingerbread prominently features molasses and ginger. This recipe combines all the classic German gingerbread flavors into easy-to-bake, soft and spicy cookies.
You can learn more about how Germans enjoy the holiday season, aka Weihnachtszeit in German, in my comprehensive Weihnachten guide.
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German Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients
Gingerbread dough
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 1/2 cups rye flour
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tbsp cocoa Dutch-processed
- 1 tsp lemon zest
Lebkuchen Spices
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground clove
- 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
Icing
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp water
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the soft butter, honey, and brown sugar with an electric mixer or stand mixer using the paddle attachment. Add the eggs one at a time while stirring until all wet ingredients are well combined.1/2 cup butter, 1/3 cup honey, 1 cup brown sugar, 2 eggs
- Slowly add the two types of flour, baking soda, cocoa, lemon zest, and spices. Mix everything until you have homogenous sticky cookie dough.2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 1/2 cups rye flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp lemon zest, 1 tsp ground ginger, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ground clove, 1/4 tsp ground cardamom, 1 tbsp cocoa
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 1 hour. This makes it easier to work with.
- Preheat the oven to 350F (180C).
- To make the cookies, roll out the dough with a rolling pin until it is 1/4 inch thick on a lightly floured surface and cut out your preferred shapes. Make sure they are about the same size to ensure they bake evenly. Place the cookies onto a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet.
- Bake the gingerbread cookies in the oven for 8-10 minutes on the baking sheet. Let them fully cool down on a wire rack.
- To make the icing, thoroughly mix the powdered sugar with water and add it to a piping bag. You can use a sandwich bag and cut off a corner to make your own. Add the icing to the cookies and let them dry for 1 hour or until dry to the touch. Enjoy!1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tbsp water
Notes
Nutrition
Ingredients and substitutions
- Rye flour – Rye flour adds a rich flavor and wholesome texture to these German spice cookies but you can swap it for wholemeal wheat flour if needed.
- Honey – A mild, runny honey adds sweetness and a chewy texture to these cookies.
- Brown sugar – Brown sugar gives the cookies sweetness as well as depth of flavor. You can use white sugar if needed.
- Spices – Warming spices give these cookies their distinct flavor. The amount of ground ginger, cinnamon, clove, and cardamom can be adjusted to suit your taste. Or you can use my Christmas spice mix to add instant festive flavors.
- Lemon – Lemon zest complements the warming ginger-led spices.
- Cocoa – Dutch-processed cocoa powder not only gives the cookies a darker shade but also adds a rich chocolate flavor and color.
Gingerbread icing ideas
Powdered sugar-based icing offers a nice contrast to the amber-colored cookies, the simple sweetness complements the complex spiced cookies nicely. Here are some popular types of icing for German Christmas cookies:
- Powdered sugar icing (1 cup powdered sugar / 1 tbsp water)
- Sugar glaze (3/4 cup powdered sugar / 1 1/2 tbsp water)
- Royal icing (1 1/2 cups powdered sugar / 1 egg white )
Chocolate-covered Lebkuchen is another delicious way these German dessert cookies are served. Roll out the dough nice and thick for a softer cookie if you’re covering it with a chocolate glaze.
Different types of German gingerbread
Traditional German gingerbread originated in the 14th century and now comes in many different shapes and sizes. There are certainly no rules you need to stick to but here are some popular Lebkuchen varieties:
Lebkuchen heart (Lebkuchenherz)
These are typically sold at fairs including Oktoberfest and come with personal messages such as “I love you”. They’re a candid gift and can be worn like a necklace.
You can use this recipe to make a gingerbread heart. Simply roll the dough out in a large heart shape and bake it for longer. Decorate it with a simple powdered icing and your message of choice.
Gingerbread house (Lebkuchenhaus)
Gingerbread houses come in all sizes and styles. You can download a free template here.
To make a gingerbread house using this recipe, simply bake the Lebkuchen a few minutes longer to ensure it’s not too soft. Make sure the pieces are fully cooled down before you assemble the house. Use a thick powdered sugar icing, and decorate in a variety of candies, those houses not only look good but last for a few weeks.
Nürnberger Elisenlebkuchen
Nürnberger Lebkuchen are a special kind of Bavarian gingerbread. They are made with ground almonds and candied lemon peel and sit on thin, tasteless communion wafers called “Backoblaten”. You can find them in many different shapes including hearts, circles, diamonds, stars, or rectangles covered in a chocolate glaze or sugar glaze. They’re typically decorated with whole or slivered almonds.
Pfeffernüsse
Pfeffernüsse are small, round ginger spiced cookies. They are lighter than other gingerbread varieties and have a sugar glaze, adding extra sweetness and a unique white appearance.
Gingerbread men
Attributed to the court of Queen Elizabeth I, who served the figurines to foreign dignitaries, these uniquely shaped Lebkuchen have found a home in Germany despite their British tradition. Decorated with colored chocolate buttons and icing they make a tasty treat for all ages.