Easy Lebkuchen-Inspired Spice Cookies
A quick and easy drop cookie recipe featuring classic Lebkuchen spices (cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg) and a hint of molasses or honey for authentic flavor. These soft, chewy cookies are perfect for a festive treat without the fuss of rolling and cutting.
Ingredients
- •1 cup all-purpose flour
- •0.5 teaspoon baking soda
- •1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- •0.5 teaspoon ground ginger
- •0.25 teaspoon ground cloves
- •0.25 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- •0.25 teaspoon salt
- •0.5 cup unsalted butter, softened
- •0.5 cup granulated sugar
- •1 large egg
- •2 tablespoon unsulphured molasses
- •1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- •0.5 cup powdered sugar
- •1 tablespoon milk or lemon juice
Instructions
- 1.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- 2.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cloves, ground nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.
- 3.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- 4.
Beat in the large egg, unsulphured molasses, and vanilla extract until well combined and smooth.
- 5.
Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough.
- 6.
Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. You should get about 12 cookies.
- 7.
Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are set and lightly golden, but the centers still look soft. Do not overbake.
- 8.
Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- 9.
While the cookies cool, prepare the glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and milk (or lemon juice) until smooth and pourable. Add more liquid a few drops at a time if needed to reach desired consistency.
- 10.
Once the cookies are completely cool, drizzle or spread the glaze over the tops. Let the glaze set before serving.
Tips
- 💡For an even richer flavor, you can use dark brown sugar instead of granulated sugar.
- 💡Do not overmix the dough after adding the flour; this can lead to tough cookies.
- 💡For a more intense spice flavor, you can lightly toast your whole spices before grinding them, or increase the spice amounts slightly to your preference.
- 💡If you don't have molasses, you can substitute with an equal amount of honey, though the flavor will be slightly different.
- 💡Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days.
Recipe from TheCookbook.ai
Created by Shannon Williams