Quick & Easy Chocolate-Lebkuchen recipe

Quick & Easy Chocolate-Lebkuchen recipe, a delightful spiced German holiday cookie with a rich chocolate glaze!

Ingredients:
For the Lebkuchen Cookies:
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup ground almonds or hazelnuts (optional for texture)
½ cup brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp ground cloves
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp ground cardamom (optional)
2 large eggs
¼ cup honey
¼ cup molasses
1 tsp vanilla extract
Zest of 1 lemon or orange
For the Chocolate Glaze:
1 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
1 tbsp butter or coconut oil (for smoothness)
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Dough:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, ground almonds (if using), brown sugar, baking powder, cocoa powder, and all the spices (cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and cardamom).
In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, honey, molasses, vanilla extract, and the lemon or orange zest.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until a thick, sticky dough forms.
2. Shape and Bake:
Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, drop spoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet. You can gently flatten them with the back of the spoon to create round, cookie-like shapes.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are firm and the cookies are set but still soft in the center.
Remove from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
3. Make the Chocolate Glaze:
Melt the chocolate chips and butter (or coconut oil) in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second intervals, stirring between each until smooth and glossy.
Dip the tops of the cooled cookies into the melted chocolate or drizzle it over the cookies.
4. Let the Chocolate Set:
Place the cookies on a wire rack or parchment paper and let the chocolate set completely (you can refrigerate them for faster setting).
5. Serve:
Once the chocolate has hardened, the Chocolate-Lebkuchen is ready to serve!
Tips:
You can decorate the cookies with chopped nuts, sprinkles, or a drizzle of white chocolate for added flair.
Store these cookies in an airtight container—they actually taste better after a day or two as the flavors develop!, a delightful spiced German holiday cookie with a rich chocolate glaze!

Ingredients:
For the Lebkuchen Cookies:
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup ground almonds or hazelnuts (optional for texture)
½ cup brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp ground cloves
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp ground cardamom (optional)
2 large eggs
¼ cup honey
¼ cup molasses
1 tsp vanilla extract
Zest of 1 lemon or orange
For the Chocolate Glaze:
1 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
1 tbsp butter or coconut oil (for smoothness)
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Dough:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, ground almonds (if using), brown sugar, baking powder, cocoa powder, and all the spices (cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and cardamom).
In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, honey, molasses, vanilla extract, and the lemon or orange zest.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until a thick, sticky dough forms.
2. Shape and Bake:
Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, drop spoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet. You can gently flatten them with the back of the spoon to create round, cookie-like shapes.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are firm and the cookies are set but still soft in the center.
Remove from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
3. Make the Chocolate Glaze:
Melt the chocolate chips and butter (or coconut oil) in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second intervals, stirring between each until smooth and glossy.
Dip the tops of the cooled cookies into the melted chocolate or drizzle it over the cookies.
4. Let the Chocolate Set:
Place the cookies on a wire rack or parchment paper and let the chocolate set completely (you can refrigerate them for faster setting).
5. Serve:
Once the chocolate has hardened, the Chocolate-Lebkuchen is ready to serve!
Tips:
You can decorate the cookies with chopped nuts, sprinkles, or a drizzle of white chocolate for added flair.
Store these cookies in an airtight container—they actually taste better after a day or two as the flavors develop!