Cardamom is commonly used to flavor lebkuchen.
Lebkuchen is a German cookie that resembles a soft gingerbread. Traditionally a Christmas present, Franconian monks are credited with inventing the German version of this sweet and spicy delicacy. There are many styles, but one of the most famous is the one produced in Nuremberg, Germany, it has a wafer underneath and is coated in dark chocolate. The cookies are also used to make decorated heart cookies and witch houses, which can be found in German markets.
Walnuts are a common ingredient in lebkuchen.
For many years, Nuremberg was home to a bakers’ guild that produces all the traditional “Nuremberg lebkuchen”. They are made in factories and small bakeries and are a protected geographical indication. Having this designation means that it is the only type that can be labeled “Nuremberg lebkuchen”. Also, they can only be produced by guild members within the city limits of Nuremberg.
European-style bakeries may offer lebkuchen.
There are also other types of lebkuchen. The brown lebkuchen does not have a wafer underneath and is not coated with chocolate or any other substance. Some recipes contain nuts and raisins. Others are filled with jams and jellies. Various bakers have made many modifications to the recipe over the years, but the recipe used by the German guild is kept strictly secret.
The main ingredients of lebkuchen are spices, flour, eggs, and some type of sweetener. When the cooking of the product began, sugar was much more expensive and more difficult to find. As a result, honey was used as a substitute sweetener. Various types of nuts can be used such as hazelnuts, almonds and walnuts. Some of the spices used are cinnamon, ginger, cloves and cardamom.
Many German markets contain various items made from lebkuchen. With it, witch houses are made, inspired by the story of Hansel and Gretel. In addition, a harder version of the cookie, usually heart-shaped, is baked, decorated with icing, and given as a gift. Horses are also modeled from the dough and decorated with icing, like a gingerbread man.
It is possible to order lebkuchen online and in some bakeries around the world. It is most easily found at Christmas because it is a traditional German Christmas present. Many people even make their own, using recipes they found on the internet or that were inherited from their family.