Farmer Boy Christmas Recipe - Traditional Lebkuchen

Here is one of those cookie recipes that has been passed down in my family for generations.  Lebuchen is a German spice cookie.  It is produced commercially in the U.S.A. and recognized as the "Windmill" cookie.  But that shape is not the traditional one.  Most people think this cookie is Dutch because of that break from tradition.  And, if you make this recipe, you'll find it tastes much better than those produced commercially!

Farmer Boy Lebkuchen

Ingredients:

• 3 Cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves (a little goes a long way!)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 large egg
• 3/4 Cup brown sugar
• 1/2 Cup honey
• 1/2 Cup molasses

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl.  Add a little at a time of all the wet ingredients, mix well.  Form into a couple small balls (it makes it easier), and roll out dough to about 1/4 inch thick.  Cut into rectangles - about 1" X 2".  Bake on parchment paper lined cooke sheet for about 10 - 12 minutes.  Remove from oven, leaving them on the paper, and glaze each.  The glaze is made of 1 Cup of powdered sugar, 2 Tablespoons of water, 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice.  This recipe makes about 4 dozen.  (I also make these, using a cookie cutter - my family usually made them for the children with one shaped as Santa with his bag on his back.  If I don't make them in the traditional rectangle, I prefer to use a heart shaped cutter, but any shape is OK - even that windmill!)  Once they are glazed and cooled enough that they are not soft, you can move them to a wire rack to cool completely.  They store well in a sealed container.

When I eat these at Christmastime, I'm transported in my mind back to my childhood!  I was told then, that Santa liked these cookies - so I should leave some for him! - So you might want to consider doing that too :)

If you make these, let us all know, by leaving a comment here. Thanks.  The Old Man in the Bib Overalls