I know that Lebkuchenherzen (the German gingerbread cookie) is something that you can find during Christmas, but it also became popular as a souvenir during the Oktoberfest. After shaping and baking it in a heart shape, you can have fun and be as creative as you want piping or drawing a personalized message. Since I am not a piping expert, I decided to go quite simple for my first batch…
…but the day after I decided I wanted to try to pipe the big heart again with a more “traditional” look.
Ingredients
- Lebkuchen dough
- 600g all purpose flour
- 125g granulated sugar
- 100g unsalted butter
- 275g honey
- 1 whole egg
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp lebkuchengewürz (I used this recipe from einfach backen for the spices that includes cinnamon, clove, allspice, nutmeg, cardamom, ginger and anise)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 whole egg
- Royal icing
- Egg white
- 150g powdered/confectioners sugar
Instructions
- Wet ingredients. Mix 125g sugar, 100g unsalted butter, 275g honey, 1 tablespoon cocoa powder and 1 tablespoon lebkuchengewürz in a saucepan and heat until everything is melted and combined. Let cool completely.
- Cookie dough. In a large bowl, combine 600g all purpose flour, 1 whole egg, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt and the wet ingredients mix. Knead until everything is combined into a smooth dough. Cover the bowl and leave to rest at room temperature for at least 3-4 hours.
- Preheat the oven at 200ºC (~390-400ºF).
- Forming the hearts. Roll the dough on a baking sheet with a thickness around 1cm. Use a sharp knife to cut hearts or any shape you like.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes and leave to cool completely before piping.
- Royal icing. Whip the egg white until it starts to foam. Add the powdered sugar and keep whipping until the mix turns shiny and with stiff peaks. It might take between 3-5 minutes. Add food coloring and mix until combined.
- Decorate. Use the royal icing to write a message and/or decorate each Lebkuchenherz
Nutrition
- Serving ~70g (small heart) | Calories 272 kcal
- Fat 5.87g | Carbohydrates 51.57g | Protein 4.54g