Christmas is coming, cookies time! Who wants to learn how to make German gingerbread cookies?
Household chefs of all levels can appreciate the artistry involved in cooking. It brings people together and allows for creativity and experimentation. There are so many different types of cuisine to explore, each with its own unique flavors and ingredients.
Today, were going to take a look at German gingerbread cookies. These deliciously spiced cookies are perfect for the holiday season, or any time youre in the mood for a sweet treat! Lets get started!
Table of Contents
What is Another Name for German Gingerbread Cookies?
German gingerbread cookies - Lebkuchen
You may have heard German gingerbread cookies referred to by different names. In the United States, they are sometimes called Lebkuchen, while in Germany and other parts of Europe, these spiced treats are often called Pfeffernusse or Honigkuchen. No matter what you call them, these cookies will always be a classic favorite!
What are Key Ingredients to Make German Gingerbread Cookies?
Making German gingerbread cookies starts with a few basic ingredients. Youll need flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and a variety of spices. The most common spices used in German gingerbread cookies are ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, and mace. Youll also want to add some honey or molasses for sweetness and a bit of brandy for flavor.
How to Bake German Gingerbread Cookies for Christmas Festive Meals
How to bake German gingerbread cookies?
Ingredients:
- 200g of unsalted butter (3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons)
- 42g of molasses (2 tbsp) (or you can replace it with honey)
- 80-milliliter light corn syrup (1/3 cup)
- 358g all-purpose flour(2 3/4 cups)
- 1â…“ cup packed brown sugar (267g)
- Half of the package Lebkuchen spice. In case you dont have, you can make your own by mixing:
- ½ tablespoon cinnamon,
- ½ teaspoon cloves, ⅛ teaspoon each of mace, coriander, cardamom, and ginger - ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 tsp (4g) baking powder
- ¼ tsp (1.5g) salt
- 2 large eggs
- Bittersweet chocolate (114g)
- 1 tbsp coconut oil (14g)
- 1 cup(125g) powdered sugar
- nuts for decoration, such as walnuts or halved almonds, or candies
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Next, take two cookie sheets that are 11×17 inches in size and line them with parchment paper. Set these aside for now. These next steps will help you to create the perfect cookies.
- To make the cookie dough, start by heating butter, molasses, and corn syrup in a small pot until only the butter has melted.
- In a large bowl, mix together flour, brown sugar, spice mix, baking powder, and salt. Once those ingredients are combined well, stir in the now-liquid butter mixture.
- Add eggs one at a time to the wet mixture; be sure each is mixed evenly before adding another.
- Using either a cookie scoop or tablespoons as measures, drop blobs of batter onto prepared cookie sheets-being mindful to leave about 2 inches between each potential cookie for expansions sake. Pat Each glob down with your fingers till it resembles a disc more than anything else
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the oven then remove it to the wire rack to cool it down.
- In order to make the glazes, melt chocolate and coconut oil in a small bowl by microwaving for two minutes. Stir until combined. In another bowl, mix powdered sugar with 3 tablespoons of water until you achieve the desired consistency.
- Dip half the cookies into chocolate and half into the white icing.
- Top it off by adding nuts as decoration.
Here are YouTube videos of gingerbread cookies German for you:
How to Tell my German Gingerbread is Ready to Serve?
How to know my German gingerbread is ready?
Your German gingerbread cookies are ready when they are golden brown and the edges are slightly crisp.
When you remove them from the oven, let them cool on the cookie sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.
Once cooled, your German gingerbread cookies will be crisp yet chewy with a spiced sweetness that is perfect for the holidays. Enjoy!
Tips for a Yummy Batch of gingerbread cookies German
- Room temperature ingredients provide the best starting point. This will help ensure that all of the ingredients mix together properly
- Let your dough chill and rest for a few minutes. This will help prevent your German gingerbread cookies from spreading too much while baking.
- Make sure you use fresh, quality spices for the most flavorful German gingerbread cookies!
- To make a softer cookie, bake for less time.
- To make a crunchier cookie, bake for longer.
How to Serve the Gingerbread Cookies German?
How to serve gingerbread cookies German?
- Your German gingerbread cookies can be served as a snack or dessert with your favorite cup of tea. These cookies can also be great gifts for family and friends during the holidays!
- For an extra special treat, try serving them with some homemade German chocolate ice cream.
- Or wrap them up in festive packages to give away as presents.
No matter how you serve them, German gingerbread cookies are sure to be a hit! Enjoy!
Check out how to make gingerbread houses for your festive holidays!
FAQs
What is the origin of the name lebkuchen?
Its using Etymology. The German Lebkuchen is thought to be the origin of this popular holiday treat. The first component of the word, lebekuoche, is uncertain in its origins: it might come from Latin libum (flat bread) or Germanic Laib, loaf, or Leb-Honig, crystallized honey often used in baking.
What is the difference: lebkuchen vs gingerbread?
Although lebkuchen falls into the category of baked goods flavored with spices like cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg and sweetened with honey or molasses, it is significantly different than a crisp gingerbread man cookie. Instead, lebkuchen is soft and dense with a texture that lies somewhere between cake and cookie - often times being nutty as well.
What is the difference: pfeffernusse vs lebkuchen?
Pfeffernusse and Lebkuchen both have the same sweet honey flavor with warm baking spices. However, pfeffernusse are usually small and round, coated with a sugar glaze. On the other hand, lebkuchen can either be shaped like regular cookies or cut in bars form. They also lack a sugar coating and instead are typically chocolate covered..
What do Americans call Lebkuchen?
Lebkuchen has also been called honey cake (Honiqkuchen) or pepper cake (Pfeffernusse) because of the varying ingredients used throughout history. If they are round, these cookies can reach up to 11.5 cm (4.5 inches) in diameter- and they can be even larger if rectangular!
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed these German gingerbread cookies recipe and they will become a part of your Christmas traditions. Thank you for reading and we look forward to sharing more recipes with you in the future. For more cooking and baking inspiration, be sure to visit our website thebluestove.com.
There youll find even more holiday favorites as well as year-round classics that are sure to become family favorites. So whether youre looking for an impressive dessert to finish off a festive meal or a simple snack to enjoy with your morning coffee, weve got you covered. Bon appetite!
