Lebkuchen Bars
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- 1 teaspoon fresh orange zest
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
Icing
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
How To Make Lebkuchen Bars
- Note: dough will need to chill for 6-8 hours. Plan ahead!
- In a medium sized saucepan, combine brown sugar, honey, granulated sugar, and butter. Bring mixture just to a simmer over medium heat, stir until sugar is fully dissolved, then remove from heat.
- In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and ginger.
- Once honey mixture has cooled, add egg, orange juice, zest, vanilla, to the cooled honey then fold in almonds. Spoon mixture into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Cover dough with plastic wrap directly on the surface of the dough (to prevent drying) and refrigerate for 6-8 hours or overnight.
- When ready to bake, allow dough to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a 9×9-inch baking dish with parchment paper, then lightly grease.
- Transfer dough to the prepared baking dish and use a greased spatula to press into a flat layer (dough will be sticky).
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- As bars bake, prepare the icing. Mix all icing ingredients in a small bowl until no lumps remain.
- Cool baked bars for 5-10 minutes, then spread icing over the top.
- Allow bars to fully cool at room temperature and icing to set before slicing.
- Store cooled bars in an airtight container at room temperature. They’re best enjoy a few days after baking!
