we got flava

WE made a batch of delicious Lebkuchen... In the research phase, we discovered why you buy them at the christmas markets for your love and wear them home around your neck. They keep you safe from evil spirits and protect you in battle! Biscuit of POWER!

Lebkuchen

1/2 cup of honey
1/2 cup molasses
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 3/4 cup of plain flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup candied orange or lemon peel
1/2 cup finely chopped hazelnuts

Icing
1 cup white sugar
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup icing sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice

I put in a teaspoon of ground black pepper as I had no idea what they call allspice in germany, despite staring hopefully at the spice section for about half an hour... I managed nutmeg and cloves. I also added some finely chopped fresh ginger, because I love it. And the lemon juicey icing is me too... It's extra zesty...

In a medium saucepan, bring honey and molasses to the boil, remove from heat and stir in the brown sugar, egg, lemon juice and lemon zest, then stir in the candied peel and hazelnuts. In a large bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, allspice and nutmeg. Add the molasses mixture and stir well. Cover the dough and chill overnight.

Preheat the oven to 175 degrees C. Roll out half of the dough at a time, to 1/4 inch thickness, cut into rectangles, little men, stars or giant circles, if you wish to make flava flav clocks... Bake for 10-12 minutes until no imprint remains when touched lightly.

Brush the icing over them while they are still hot and quickly remove to wire cooling racks. Store in an airtight container with a peeled mandarin or a few slices of apple overnight... They will get soft and chewy, personally I prefer them before they get soft and chewy, but, that's how they make them here...

To make the icing: Combine the sugar and lemon juice and water in a small saucepan. Stir until fully dissolved, then gently boil until a small amount dropped into water forms a soft ball. Remove from heat and stir in icing sugar. If it becomes sugary while brushing the cookies, reheat slightly, adding a bit more water or lemon juice until crystals dissolve...

This makes a small mountain of dough, so you may want to keep half in the fridge and bake it later when the need for more arises...