Information AboutLebkuchen |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT LEBKUCHEN | |
| german cuisine | |
| cookies | |
| christmas food | |
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''Lebkuchen'' are a traditional German Christmas Cookies form of Gingerbread , which were probably invented by Medieval monks in Franconia , Germany in the 13th Century . ''Lebkuchen'' bakers were recorded as early as 1296 in Ulm , and 1395 in Nuremberg , the latter being the most famous ''Lebkuchen'' exporter today. Sometimes ''Lebkuchen'' are packaged in richly decorated nostalgic tins and boxes which have become collectors' items. ''Lebkuchen'' range in taste from spicy to sweet and come in a variety of shapes with round being the most common. The ingredients usually include Honey , spices and nuts, almonds or candied fruit. Salt Of Hartshorn and Potash are often used for raising the dough. The ''Lebkuchen'' dough is often placed on a thin wafer base called Oblate . This was an idea of the monks who used communion wafers to prevent the dough from sticking. The forerunner of today's ''Lebkuchen'' was called "honey cake" and its history can be traced back to the Egyptians , the Greeks and the Romans . They believed that honey, the only widely available very sweet food, was a gift of the gods and had Magical and healing powers. Honey cakes were also worn as a talisman in battle or as protection against evil spirits. Teutonic peoples used honey cakes for the same purpose, especially around the Winter Solstice , which might be the reason Lebkuchen became associated with Christmas. Since 1808 , Nuremberg gingerbread of the best quality is called ''Elisenlebkuchen''. It is uncertain whether the name ''Elise'' refers to the daughter of a gingerbread baker or the wife of a margrave. Since 1996 , ''Nürnberger Lebkuchen'' is a Protected Designation Of Origin . ''Lebkuchen'' are usually soft, but a harder type of ''Lebkuchen'' is used to produce ''Lebkuchen'' hearts, usually inscribed with Icing , which are available at many German fairs and the ''witch houses'' made popular by Hansel And Gretel . The closest German equivalent of the Gingerbread Man is the ''Honigkuchenpferd'' (''honey cake horse''). The Etymology of the term ''Lebkuchen'' is uncertain, but derivations from the Latin ''libum'' (''flat bread'') and from the Germanic word ''Laib'' (''loaf'') have been proposed. Another likely possibility is that it comes from the old term ''Leb-Honig'', the rather solid crystallized honey taken from the hive, that can not be used for much besides baking. Folk Etymology often associates it with ''Leben'' (''life''), and many people in Germany seem to think that eating it is a good cure for winter depression. Historically, ''Lebkuchen'' was also known as ''honey cake'' (''Honigkuchen'') and ''pepper cake'' (''Pfefferkuchen''). BASIC RECIPE 2 cups sugar 2 eggs, beaten 2 cups unsulfered molasses 4 tablespoons vinegar 4 teaspoons ginger 1 teaspoon cloves 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 tablespoon baking soda 1/2 cup warm water flour - enough to make a stiff dough Mix sugar and molasses well. Add beaten eggs, vinegar, and spices. Add soda dissolved in warm water, then add enough flour to make a stiff dough. Roll out and cut into oblong bars. You can also cut the dough with cookie cutters. Bake at 350 F for 12-15 minutes. -Recipe Origination: Karlsruhe, DE EXTERNAL LINKS |
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