Lesley Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 Small spice and honey cake/biscuits - ideal for wrapping as gifts or adding to hampers. Makes 70 - enough for 4 or 5 bags. Lebkuchen 250g plain flour 1tsp baking powder half tsp bicarbonate of soda 125g ground almonds 2tsp ground ginger 2tsp ground cinnamon a quarter tsp each of ground cloves and nutmeg a pinch of salt 200ml clear honey (I will try using half honey and half dark treacle next time) 85g butter zest of 1 lemon Icing 100g icing sugar - seived half an egg white 2 tsp lemon juice Heat oven to 180C Heat the honey/treacle and butter in a large pan until the butter melts. Add all the dry ingredients and lemon zest and mix well. Leave to cool slightly and then roll dough into small balls, slightly larger than Maltesers. Place on baking trays lined with parchment, leaving room for the biscuits to expand. Cook one tray at a time for 11-14 minutes - cool on a wire rack. Mix the icing sugar, lemon juice and some of the egg white to make a spreadable icing - add more of the egg white as needed. Dip the top of each biscuit in the icing and spread it over with a knife or a clean finger. Leave to dry in a warm room. I used what was left of the icing and put it in a small piping bag and piped lines across. Once dry, pack into cellophane bags and tie tightly. I'm not sure yet how long they keep as I hadn't made them before - I will look through a few recipes and find out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 They sound lovely I have all of those ingredients in my cupboard! (a few months ago I would have had none of that and a pack of Mr Kiplings ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 Yum, yum & double yum! I made the Hairy Bakers christmas cookie things last week & didn't like them at all These sound much nicer though,so I will give them a bash I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 Thank you for that Lesley. I tried to buy some in Sainsburys yesterday as we have them every year for Christmas and they had none! So another thing to add to my baking list tomorrow to give for Christmas Macaroons Florentines Lebkuchen Mince pies (not to give, just to eat nom nom nom) busy busy busy . . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 20, 2008 Author Share Posted December 20, 2008 I forgot to say that they are really quick and easy to make - a good job with a list like that to make tomorrow Bluekarin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!! Yet another thing to add to my to do list, I have most of those goodies & will substitute the nutmeg & cloves for mixed spice as I haven't any! DS loves real German Lebkuchen, hope these are as good! A batch of RC Orange sticks is bubbling away as I type, if I'm quick I could get a batch in before my lot start braying for their croissants!!......Who needs a clean house anyway?! Where's the glitter spray, I'm sure those cobwebs would look beautiful with a squirt or two!! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 21, 2008 Author Share Posted December 21, 2008 I've never tried real ones - just the usual supermarket ones - would you let me know his opinion? I just read a few recipes and picked the one with the ingredients I most liked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Lesley, just re-read the ingredients, how do you measure half a fresh egg white?! I tend to get all or ***-all !! Will choose Bluebell's smallest one available I think Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 21, 2008 Author Share Posted December 21, 2008 I must admit that I had three egg whites in a bowl - and I just scooped up the runnier bits The photo from the recipe I used just had a thin icing and had used the whole egg white - I wanted a thicker icing that wasn't translucent. This is the photo from the site..... from this site..... http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1941/lebkuchen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 These look good Lesley - may give them a try. Do you whisk the egg white or beat a bit or just use it as is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 21, 2008 Author Share Posted December 21, 2008 I just mixed it in with the lemon juice - like a thick glace icing. I'm just going to make some more - using dark treacle in it. I think that the dough should roll out as well and I'll make some stars. I might try to recreate those that have some strawberry (raspberry?) jam in the middle and are covered in melted chocolate...........I may be gone some time....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 I just mixed it in with the lemon juice - like a thick glace icing. I'm just going to make some more - using dark treacle in it. I think that the dough should roll out as well and I'll make some stars. I might try to recreate those that have some strawberry (raspberry?) jam in the middle and are covered in melted chocolate...........I may be gone some time....... I've had ones with apricot jam in and plum jam. They are so yummy! I've just made the biscuits, and they didn't rise at all and are still a Malteaser shape Any suggestions where I went wrong? I've just popped some more in but made them larger, so fingers crossed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 22, 2008 Author Share Posted December 22, 2008 erm...you did add the Bi-carb and the Baking Powder? - can't think of any other reason They increase by about half as much again in size and should be light and puffy. They are cooked when touching with a finger tip doesn't leave an impression. I added slightly too much bi-carb to my second lot - I can taste it slightly I made the recipe but using half treacle and half honey - I like it better. I made some with a small amount of raspberry jelly in the middle but it wasn't worth the faff really. I rolled some out between two sheets of baking parchment and cut tiny stars out of it, it worked quite well. I'm going to ice the stars and dip the others in chocolate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 I can vouch that they are lovely (thanks Lesley) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Just finished icing my first batch of these - they are yummy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 22, 2008 Author Share Posted December 22, 2008 Glad you liked them Clare! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Mine are going down rather fast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 23, 2008 Author Share Posted December 23, 2008 I hope that is because you liked them as well Snowy? I was worried about posting a recipe i hadn't tried but thought they would be good for last minute presents. I need to make some more today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Yes definitely! I might have to try another one now they are properly dry I think I made my icing a bit too runny as mine just have a lemony glaze Very nice though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 23, 2008 Author Share Posted December 23, 2008 I have some in a bag and I have to taste test them every day so that I know how long they last Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Waaaaaah! I've got all the ingredients ready to go to make these (and gingerbread) and I just can't find the time! I've been wanting to make them for the last two days Maybe after Christmas...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Mine are in the oven & smelling wonderful They are a cery rewarding thing to make & the dough is nice to handle too - thanks Lesley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 23, 2008 Author Share Posted December 23, 2008 Thanks Sarah - they've been a big hit here as well -we've all had to test them - frequently Lorna - they really don't take long to make - and they are nice even without the icing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Mine now have yummy lemony icing & a festive sprinkle of gold edible glitter. They look truly wonderful,if a tad bling I still can't pronounce them tough, & they are known as Lesleys biscuits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Sparkly sounds pretty Sarah - any pictures? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
