Lebkuchen: Germany (Medium)

Lebkuchen, German for gingerbread, is very different from the molasses-enriched little people your mom used to make on Christmas. Today I made some Lebkuchen and absolutely loved the interesting spicy flavor. 

INGREDIENTS

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground cloves

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1 cup shelled almonds, ground

1/2 cup chopped candied orange and lemon peel

2 eggs

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups honey

1/2 cup milk

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Frosting

6 oz confectioner's sugar

1/2 tsp almond extract

1 tsp lemon juice

water

Method

Line a jelly roll tin with waxed paper, brush

lightly with oil and put aside. In a bowl, sift

   the flour, baking powder, and spices together.

Stir in the almonds and chopped peel. Break

the eggs into another bowl, add the sugar, and

beat until the mixture is light and thick, leav-

ing a trail when the whisk is lifted. Beat in the

honey and milk followed by the flour mixture.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake

in a preheated oven at 400*F for 15-20 minutes.

To make the frosting, put the confectioner's 

sugar into a bowl.  Add the extract, lemon juice

and enough water to mix to a thick consistency.

Brush the frosting over the hot Lebkuchen. Cut 

into bars to serve.