Lebkuchen Bars are a soft, spiced holiday dessert inspired by traditional German Lebkuchen cookies. These bars are warmly flavored with honey, cinnamon, and festive spices, then baked into an easy-to-slice treat perfect for Christmas gatherings or cozy winter evenings.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup chopped almonds or hazelnuts
- 1/2 cup candied orange peel or dried cranberries
Instructions
1. Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
2. Prepare the Wet Ingredients
In a saucepan over low heat, combine the honey, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and butter.
Stir constantly until the butter is melted and the mixture is smooth.
Remove from heat and allow it to cool slightly.
3. Mix the Batter
Stir the egg and vanilla into the warm mixture until fully incorporated.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and salt.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until smooth.
4. Add Nuts and Fruit
Fold in the chopped nuts and candied peel or dried cranberries, distributing them evenly throughout the batter.
5. Bake
Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.
Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.
6. Cool and Serve
Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting.
Serve plain or dust lightly with powdered sugar.
