Spelt Hazelnut Lebkuchen

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Spelt Hazelnut Lebkuchen

Labels: { Chocolate, Cookies and Bars, German, Holiday Specials, Honey, Nuts and Seeds, Spelt }

Lebkuchen, also called Pfefferkuchen, is a traditional German baked Christmas biscuit, somewhat resembling gingerbread. It is easy to make and has a sweet, spicy, lightly nutty taste.
Potash or pearlash is also known as potassium carbonate. It is an alkaline salt which reacts with water or an acid to create carbon dioxide, which gives baked goods lift. As a substitute, use 1/2 teaspoon baking soda for every teaspoon of potash. The taste of the final product may be different from the original.

Wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year. Hope you all enjoy your Holidays!

Dough	Chocolate Icing
125 g Honey 125 g Molasses 0,5 g Pure stevia extract (or 150 g brown sugar) 150 g Coconut oil 150 g Ground hazelnuts 370 g Refined spelt flour 1 tbsp Dutch-process cocoa powder 2 tsp Lebkuchen spice mix 1 tsp Lemon peel, finely grated 1 Egg 2 tsp Potash (alkaline salt) 2 tbsp Cold water	230 g Confectioners sugar 30 g Dutch-process cocoa powder 60 ml Boiling water Chilli threads Pink Peppercorns Sea salt flakes

Place the honey, molasses, raw brown sugar, stevia extract and coconut oil in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until the coconut oil melts . Set aside for 10 minutes to cool slightly. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
Add in ground hazelnut, spelt flour, cocoa powder, spice mix, lemon peel and egg. Stir until well combined. Mix the potash with cold water until well blended. Add the mixture to the dough. Knead the dough until smooth. Let it rest, covered with plastic wrap, overnight in the refrigerator.
Preheat oven to 180C/350F. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface until 5mm thick.
Use your favourite cookie cutters to cut cookies from the dough. Place on prepared trays. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until golden. Set aside on trays for 5 minutes to cool before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
To make the chocolate icing, combine the confectioners sugar and cocoa in a medium bowl. Add the water and stir to a slightly runny paste. Spread icing over each biscuit and sprinkle with chilli threads, pink peppercorns or sea salt. Set aside for 30 minutes to set.

72 comments:

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen 20/12/14 13:29: Your Pfefferkuchen remind me of our trip to Germany many Christmases ago. Thanks for the memories. Merry Christmas to you Angie and may your new year be very bright.
Sam
Evelyne CulturEatz 20/12/14 16:04: Got to try these Lebkuchen cookies one year, love spiced type cookies. And super fancy decorations on to there with pepper corns and chili threads. Very cool.
Jeanette 20/12/14 16:13: These are so pretty Angie - I love the chili threads on top - so creative!
SavoringTime in the Kitchen 20/12/14 19:23: They look so perfectly delicious, Angie. I need to try more of these German style cookies next year! I'll pin yours as a reminder ;) Merry Christmas to you and your family, Angie!
jasna varcakovic 20/12/14 22:53: Mmm, I can almost feel their aroma through the screen. Beautiful!
Velva 21/12/14 02:50: I am familiar with the German style "gingerbread" cookies…Love, love the. As always, you have taken the classic cookie and raised it to another level. These look divine.

Velva
Gloria Baker 21/12/14 04:40: I love lebkuchen and these cookies look absolutely delicious Angie:)
Merry christmas dear Angie!!
Ivy 21/12/14 08:01: Angie these look wonderful. Happy Christmas!
Rosa's Yummy Yums 21/12/14 11:12: Wonderful cookies! I bet they are addictive.

Happy Holidays and best wishes for the New Year!

Cheers,

Rosa
Helene Dsouza 21/12/14 12:07: I am not sure if I know potash under a different name, it does sound familiar. Angie love your healthier lebkuchen! They look stunning and I am certain that they tastes amazing as well. :)
Barbara 21/12/14 12:54: Such festive photos, Angie. I love your cookies, too.
Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Susan 21/12/14 16:23: Super! I love the use of Pink Peppercorns. Like last year...just great. Merry Christmas.
Mijú 21/12/14 16:27: Pero que súper bien que te han quedado.
Un saludito
GG 21/12/14 20:58: These look wonderful, perfect with their jewel peppercorns and strands of chilli. A lovely mix of modern and traditional. GG
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl 21/12/14 23:23: Love how festive this post is... also how yummy! Happy holidays!
Roz | La Bella Vita Cucina 21/12/14 23:37: What beautiful cookies! I love the glistening chocolate all over the top! Merry Christmas dear friend, and to your family too!
xo
Roz
Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake 22/12/14 03:40: Such pretty lebkuchen! Merry, merry Christmas, Angie!!! xo
Kelly 22/12/14 09:59: These lebkuchen are so so pretty! I love how festive you decorated them too and the chili threads are such a nice touch! Have a Merry Merry Christmas Angie! :)
Regina 22/12/14 10:39: Your lebkuchen look delicious! This was one of the first years where I missed German lebkuchen at Christmastime. Having a baby made me very nostalgic. SO I baked my own for the very first time. I love the way you decorated yours. Those colorful peppercorns and especially the chili threads!
Emma @ Bake Then Eat 22/12/14 13:08: I love these cookies and usually buy a stash from the local German Christmas market, never thought about making my own. I shall definitely have to give them a go. Merry Christmas :D
Unknown 22/12/14 13:09: These are so fun Angie! Everything looks so festive!
Alida 22/12/14 13:54: Oh my.. not only they look beautiful. They really must be ever so delicious. What lovely times you are bringing up with this post Angie. I loved these biscuits when I was in Germany!
Have a beautiful and happy Christmas x
Joanne 22/12/14 14:32: What adorable little treats these are! So holiday perfect.
grace 22/12/14 14:48: i'm in awe of that icing--what a perfect consistency! lovely cookies too, obviously. :)
Pilar. Cook and Spoon 22/12/14 16:11: So beautiful! Perfect for the mid-afternoon coffee.
Monica 22/12/14 16:53: Cookies look fabulous and those little Santas holding them up are too cute! I love the sound of spelt with hazelnuts. Merry Christmas and have a wonderful New Year!
Sue/the view from great island 22/12/14 19:18: That deep spicy flavor is so tempting, and I love that you topped it with dark chocolate --- pinning these!
Mireya Merritt 22/12/14 19:36: Angie,
You're so creative! Lebkuchen are my favorite Christmas cookies and I love your creative twist on them with the chili thread and the pink peppercorns.
Tricia Buice 22/12/14 19:41: I really love your version of this tasty cookie Angie. Those chilli threads are also so interesting. So pretty and perfect for the holidays! I hope you have a very Merry Christmas - and blessing for a Happy New Year!
fimere 22/12/14 19:55: parfaitement délicieux et joliment garnis bravo
joyeuses fêtes de fin d'année
Erica 22/12/14 20:45: Halzenut and coconut oil!!!! These cookies sound amazing, Angie! Happy Holidays!
Choc Chip Uru @ Go Bake Yourself 22/12/14 21:47: Happy Holidays my dear friend! I would be happy to eat these all day everyday :D

Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Sharon D. 23/12/14 03:32: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Angie! These look absolutely heavenly xo
Judit + Corina @Glamorous Bite 23/12/14 04:42: Oh Angie, your Lebkuchen does look very pretty and festive! We used to make them in Germany every year and since we moved to California have not had the chance to bake any.
Merry Christmas Angie!
mjskit 23/12/14 04:50: What festive cookie! There are 3 ingredients that want to make me stop what I doing and go make these - chocolate (of course), hazelnuts, and molasses. Love these cookies Angie!
Kathy 23/12/14 13:53: These look quite beautiful, Angie! I love chocolate and peppery flavors together! Happy holidays!
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Koko 23/12/14 20:18: Such beautiful cookies! I thought it was saffron on top- I have never seen chili threads! There you go again, always introducing me to new ingredients...I love it!!
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Anonymous 23/12/14 20:53: This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Nippon Nin 23/12/14 20:56: So sweet, cute and festive! I love to have this with my favorite tea. And I adore the Santa cookie holder(?). Your holiday cooking is magical!
The Yum List 23/12/14 23:20: Simple, yet very elegant decorations.
Geri Saucier 24/12/14 04:27: Beautiful cookies, Angie:) I hope you have a very Merry Christmas.
lenia 24/12/14 05:54: Amazing cookies!
Happy holidays,dear!
Anonymous 24/12/14 07:39: This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Marcela 24/12/14 11:37: awww... i love these cookies! They are the best! I'm dying to give the recipe a try! Merry Christmas, dear!
Anonymous 24/12/14 11:54: This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Copycake kitchen 24/12/14 12:31: Wow! These are prefect cookies for christmas! Merry Christmas Angie :)
Ann Jones 24/12/14 13:21: What pretty cookies, those are gorgeous!
Christine Ho 25/12/14 05:07: These cookies have really good festive looking. Want to have a bite. :)
Merry Christmas, Angie !
Gloria Baker 25/12/14 08:16: Merry Christmas Angie!
jehanne | The Cooking Doctor 25/12/14 10:35: They look wonderfully festive and I love the fact that u used spelt flour. Merry Christmas to you and family, Angie! And have a blessed New Year!
Amelia 25/12/14 12:48: Hi Angie, Merry Christmas to you and family. May you be blessed with lots of love, joy and happiness.

Back later to read your posting.
Warmest regards.
Amelia
Anonymous 25/12/14 17:38: This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
marla {Family Fresh Cooking} 25/12/14 17:41: Merry Christmas Angie!! These biscuits look wonderful!!
lena 25/12/14 17:42: so pretty and nvr thot of chilli flakes and peppercorn in icing! Merry Christmas to you!
jasna varcakovic 25/12/14 22:35: Happy holidays dear Angie; all the best to you and your family!
Anonymous 26/12/14 05:21: This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Julia | JuliasAlbum.com 26/12/14 07:31: Beautiful biscuits, Angie! I love how you always make such unusual recipes and help us discover new things even if it's about Christmas treats! I'd love to have this German dessert - it looks so pretty!
Anonymous 26/12/14 10:43: This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Jean | DelightfulRepast.com 26/12/14 14:28: Angie, I know these cookies taste great, too, but they are soooo pretty with their garnishes.
lisa is cooking 26/12/14 15:35: These are so festive and pretty! Love the chocolate glaze. Hope you're having a great holiday season!
eatgood4life.blogspot.com 26/12/14 22:37: These cookies look fantastic. The chocolate icing looks divine. I could probably eat that all by itself :-)
Anonymous 27/12/14 02:15: This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Unknown 27/12/14 06:34: These are so pretty Angie! I love gingerbready type cookies so I'm sure i'd enjoy these, not to mention they are gorgeous! Happy Holidays!
Anonymous 29/12/14 23:58: These are simply beautiful - and sound delicious - so festive!
Mary
Gina and Oli 30/12/14 21:21: Oh, hazelnuts are my favorite for winter cooking and baking. Can't wait to sample these.
G
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