Bready or Not: Lebkuchen
It’s my understanding that there are likely thousands of Lebkuchen recipes in the world, and here is mine.
This traditional German Christmas cookie is like a gingerbread cookie, but is a lot more complex due to the spices used and the citrus mixed in.
Even the glaze adds to that wonderfully fresh citrus flavor, as it has a bit of lemon juice mixed in.
The only somewhat odd ingredient is chopped-up candied orange. I actually cut up a whole-slice version that Trader Joe’s sells at the holidays, but otherwise candied orange should be found near fruitcake ingredients at many grocery stores.
Note that this cookie dough needs to chill for a full day. That gives the flour time to develop and for the spices to really do their thing.
And trust me, you want their thing done. These are awesome cookies, sure to delight and surprise anyone who digs in.
Modified from a recipe printed in Cooking Light Magazine, December 2008.
Bready or Not: Lebkuchen
Ingredients
Cookies
- 3/4 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter half stick
- 1/4 cup dark molasses
- 2 teaspoons espresso powder
- 1 large egg
- 3/4 cup ground almonds sifted
- 1/2 cup candied orange slices chopped, or candied orange peel
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 15.75 ounces
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Glaze
- 3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 1/2 teaspoons water
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan on medium heat, constantly stir together the brown sugar, honey, butter, and molasses until the sugar is dissolved. Make sure it doesn’t come to a boil. Transfer the mixture to large bowl and let it cool to room temperature.
- Add the espresso powder and egg to the cool sugar mixture. Follow that up with the ground almonds and candied orange bits.
- In a separate bowl, stir together the rest of the dry ingredients. Gradually combine the two bowls until just mixed. Lift it up and knead it for a minute or so to make sure no flour remains at the bottom.
- Wrap dough in plastic wrap and stash in the fridge for at least a day.
- Preheat oven at 325-degrees. Cover two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Divide dough into 4 portions. Keep the other portions chilled while rolling 1 out into a 8×6-inch rectangle. Cut (a pizza slicer or bench knife are great) into 3×1-inch bars. Transfer to baking sheet, setting them an inch apart.
- Bake for about 20 minutes, or until firm. If cooking both sheets at once, switch their positions about halfway through.
- As soon as the cookies are out, mix up the glaze. Drizzle glaze back and forth over the warm cookies. Let glaze set for an hour before packing up cookies in sealed containers.
OM NOM NOM!
Bready or Not Original: Honey Spritz Cookies
These Honey Spritz Cookies are perfectly sweet, and with some added sanding sugar, will make cookie plates bright this holiday season!
I have a love and hate relationship with my cookie press. Sometimes I try to use it for recipes and it is a disaster. Not so with this recipe!
This dough was soft and dreamy to work with. I can only hope that you have a similar experience.
As I used a tree-shaped disc to make my cookies, I added some green sanding sugar. The fun thing about this recipe is that you can make it any time of year and customize it to the season.
Really, the most difficult thing about this recipe was rearranging my fridge to fit in the cookie sheets for their chill time.
Bready or Not Original: Honey Spritz Cookies
Equipment
- cookie press
- 2 large cookie sheets
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 stick
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- sanding sugar or coarse sugar or other edible decorations
Instructions
- Place two cookie sheets in fridge to completely chill.
- Arrange oven racks at top and bottom of oven, then set to preheat at 350-degrees.
- In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg, honey, and vanilla. Gradually add in the dry mixture until just combined. Dough will be super-soft.
- Cookie presses vary in how they work–fill the device with dough, however required, and add decorative disk or nozzle. Press out cookie dough directly onto the cold cookie sheets, spacing 1-inch apart.
- If desired, add colorful sanding sugar or other decorations. Bake for 7 minutes. Switch placement of cookie sheets within oven. Bake for another 7 minutes, until set. Let cool on pans for about 5 minutes then transfer to racks to completely cool.
- Store in sealed containers at room temperature.
OM NOM NOM!
Bready or Not: Noel Cookies
We made it to December! Let’s celebrate with these Noel Cookies.
These cookies are a fun mixture of textures and flavors. Chopped nuts crust a soft cookie, everything complemented by a zing of jam.
I used good ol’ Smuckers strawberry preserves for this recipe and avoided large chunks of fruit. Really, use whatever jam you like!
I was a bit concerned about how these cookies would travel to my husband’s work. I didn’t want jam to get everywhere and make a sticky mess. I found, though, that the dabs of jam stayed put and that waxed paper between the stacked cookies kept everything from going sticky.
These cookies will keep for at least 3 days in sealed containers. They might last longer, but you’ll need to test your restraint to find out!
Recipe modified from Taste of Home Best Holiday Recipes 2008.
Bready or Not: Noel Cookies
Equipment
- teaspoon scoop
- parchment paper
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter half stick
- 1/4 cup shortening
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 3/4 cup finely-chopped nuts
- 1/3 cup seedless fruit jam or preserves, avoid big chunks
Instructions
- Preheat oven at 350-degrees. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- In a big bowl, cream together the butter, shortening, and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla.
- In another bowl, stir together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the butter mixture while also intermittently adding in the sour cream.
- Use a teaspoon scoop to measure the dough. Roll into balls, then roll each ball in the chopped walnuts. Place cookies about 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. Use the end of a wooden spoon or another kitchen tool to create a deep indentation in the middle of each cookie. Add a dollop of jam to fill each well.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until set. Let cool on cookies sheet for a few minutes, then move to rack. Store in a sealed container with waxed paper between the layers. Keeps for at least 3 days.
OM NOM NOM!
Bready or Not Original: Pumpkin Pie Biscotti
The 2020 pumpkin theme ends with a perfect fall treat: Pumpkin Pie Biscotti.
These things are dangerously good, and yes, they really do taste like pumpkin pie–in crisp, crunchy form.
I always keep pumpkin kernels around. I always use them in my Healthy Breakfast Cookies and in other things I make for myself, including salads. Use unsalted ones, if you can, or reduce the salt in the recipe.
Like all biscotti, these are great not simply because they are delicious, but because they should keep quite well if kept in a sealed container.
Enjoy these twice-baked treats with your hot drink of preference and feel appropriately autumnal.
Bready or Not Original: Pumpkin Pie Biscotti
Ingredients
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter half stick, softened
- 2/3 cup white sugar
- 1 1/4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 1/2 cup pure pumpkin puree
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsalted pumpkin kernels also called pepitas
- 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate
Instructions
- Preheat oven at 350-degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, blend the butter, sugar, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt, until smooth and creamy. Mix in the egg and pumpkin puree. Gradually mix in the flour followed by the pumpkin kernels.
- Divide dough in half. Place each piece spaced out on parchment. Dough will be very sticky, so shape with plastic spatula or greased or floured hands into 1-inch high flat rectangular logs.
- Bake biscotti for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and let set for 5 minutes. Use a long bread knife and slice down--don't saw--into long, even cookies. Space out cookies upright, if possible, or lay on sides.
- Bake for another 25 minutes; if cookies are laying on sides, flip them to other side halfway through. Set out on stove or counter to cool and dry for several hours.
- Melt chocolate in microwave or using a double-boiler on the stove. Drizzle chocolate over the ends of the biscotti and set again on parchment to set.
- Store biscotti in sealed containers at room temperature for days or weeks.
OM NOM NOM!
Bready or Not Original: Pumpkin Spice Espresso Cookies
These Pumpkin Spice Espresso Cookies look a perfect autumnal orange and taste like fall, too–with an added kick of espresso.
I love pumpkin recipes that use a whole can of puree. No messing with leftovers, y’know? This recipe will use a full 15-ounce can!
The pumpkin flavor comes through in the baked cookies, too, along with warm spices and coffee.
Expect a texture that is light and cakey in the mouth, and slightly tacky to the fingertips. That’s pretty common with pumpkin cookies–or ones with applesauce, and this recipe includes both.
I stored these cookies in the fridge because I live in Arizona and my kitchen is warm through fall, but these should keep fine at room temperature elsewhere.
The recipe does make about 50 cookies, but as light and delicious as they are, they might not last that long at all.
Bready or Not Original: Pumpkin Spice Espresso Cookies
Equipment
- tablespoon cookie scoop
- parchment paper
- waxed paper
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 15 ounces pure pumpkin puree
- 2 cups light brown sugar packed
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter (4 Tablespoons) room temperature
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 2 Tablespoons half & half or milk
- 1 Tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
- 2 teaspoons espresso powder
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- turbinado sugar for top
Instructions
- Preheat oven at 375-degrees. Line large cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together the eggs, pumpkin, brown sugar, butter, and applesauce. Add the half & half, pumpkin pie spice, espresso powder, and vanilla, until well combined. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients.
- Use a tablespoon scoop to dollop dough onto the parchment paper, spacing out to allow for slight spread. Sprinkle turbinado sugar over the tops.
- Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, until the tops are dry and set. Move to a rack to completely cool.
- Cookies will be slightly tacky, as many pumpkin cookies are, and should be stored with waxed paper between the layers to prevent them from sticking together. Store in a sealed container at room temperature or in the fridge.
OM NOM NOM
Bready or Not Original: Pumpkin Shortbread Cookies
Welcome to an annual tradition at Bready or Not–the autumn pumpkin theme! We begin with Pumpkin Shortbread Cookies.
This recipe makes a small batch (about 30 1-inch cookies) of delicious pumpkin shortbread cookies. I crusted the top with turbinado shortbread to make them extra pretty.
These cookies are not as dry as some shortbread can be, likely because of the pumpkin.
Pumpkin can make some baked cookies quite tacky; that’s not a problem here, in part, because the puree is actually dried a bit prior to being mixed into the dough.
The end result is a cookie that is just moist enough, perfect to go with tea, coffee, or perhaps some cider or cocoa. The orange color of the cookies makes them even more perfectly fall.
In Arizona, hot as it is, it’s important to enjoy some fall traditions like pumpkin goodies, even if it’s 100-degrees out and no trees are dropping leaves!
Bready or Not Original: Pumpkin Shortbread Cookies
Equipment
- 1 to 1 1/2-inch cookie cutter
- parchment paper
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 stick
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons confectioners' sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ginger
- turbinado or other coarse sugar, optional, for tops
Instructions
- Preheat oven at 350-degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Measure out pumpkin puree onto a couple of layered paper towels. Gently pat dry, turning over puree to sop moisture from different angles.
- In a medium sauce pan, brown the butter, carefully heating it until it smells nutty. Remove from heat. Whisk in the pumpkin puree until well combined. Note that it might bubble and pop, so take care.
- In a large bowl, combined the dry ingredients. Use a rubber spatula to mix in the saucepan items.
- Place the dough between two sheets of parchment paper and use a rolling pan to make the dough an even 1/4-inch thickness. Place it in fridge to chill for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Set dough on counter and remove top parchment. Use cookie cutter to portion out cookies. Transfer to baking sheet, spaced out a bit. Mix leftover dough together again, adding a tiny bit of water if needed to make it cohesive, and cut out more cookies.
- If desired, sprinkle turbinado sugar all over the tops of the cookies. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until cookies are set. Cool completely on baking sheet. Store in a sealed container.