Recipe: Lebkuchen

Lebkuchen
Source: Betty Crocker's Picture Cook Book
Makes 72

1/2 cup Honey
1/2 cup Molasses
3/4 cup Sugar, brown
1 Egg
1 tbsp Lemon juice
1 tsp Lemon rind; grated
2 3/4 cups Flour; sifted
1/2 tsp Baking soda
1 tsp Cinnamon, ground
1 tsp Cloves, ground
1 tsp Allspice, ground
1 tsp Nutmeg, ground
1/3 cup Citron; chopped
1/3 cup Nuts; chopped

GLAZING ICING
1 cup Sugar
1/2 cup Water
1/4 cup confectioners Sugar

Mix the honey and molasses; bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and cool thoroughly. Stir in the brown sugar, egg, lemon juice, and lemon rind.

Sift together the flour, baking soda, and spices. Stir into the honey-molasses mixture. Mix in the citron and nuts. Chill the dough overnight.

Roll a small amount at a time, keeping the rest chilled. Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness and cut into oblongs 1 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches. Place about 1 inch apart on a greased baking sheet. Bake in a 400 F (moderate/ hot) oven for 10 to 12 minutes until, when touched lightly, no imprint remains.

While the cookies bake, make the Glazing Icing:
Boil together the sugar and water until the first indication of a thread appears (230F). Remove from the heat. Stir in the confectioners' sugar.

Brush the hot icing thinly over the cookies. (When the icing gets sugary, reheat slightly, adding a little water until clear again.)