Print Recipe ♥ Save Recipe

German Lebkuchen Recipe – Oma's Easy Christmas Gingerbread Bars

This Lebkuchen recipe is such an easy German Christmas recipe to make. It's made in one bowl, baked, decorated, and then cut. But the results ... the house smells like I'm back in Germany. 

Ingredients:

For The Gingerbread:

• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) canola oil, or other neutral oil
• ½ cup (100 grams) brown sugar, packed
• ⅓ cup (113 grams) honey
• ⅓ cup (113 grams) molasses
• 2 cups (260 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon (8 grams) lebkuchen spice mix (See Hints below)
• ½ teaspoon (3 grams) baking soda
• ½ cup (55 grams) slivered almonds
• ½ cup (120 grams) mixed candied fruits and peels, chopped

For The Icing:

• 1 egg white
• 1½ cups (188 grams) powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) lemon juice
• mixed candied fruits, peels, and nuts, for decorating

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease a 10x15-inch rimmed baking sheet and set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg and oil. Add the brown sugar and beat well. Add the honey and molasses. Mix well.
3. In another bowl, mix together the flour, lebkuchen spice mix, and baking soda. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture and beat till well mixed.
4. Stir in the almonds and the candied fruits and peels. The dough will be very thick.
5. Spread the dough onto the baking sheet, using the back of a wet spoon to spread it evenly.
6. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Meanwhile, make the icing: in a small bowl, beat the egg white, powdered sugar, and lemon juice until smooth.
8. Immediately after removing the lebkuchen from the oven, use a sharp knife to score it into bars.
9. Spread the icing over the warm bars and decorate with candied fruits, peels, and nuts. Let the bars cool completely.
10. Once cooled, fully cut along the score marks to divide into individual bars.

Notes/Hints:

Lebkuchen Spice Mixture for 1 package:

• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon cloves
• ¼ teaspoon each mace, coriander, cardamon, and ginger
• ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg

Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature. Place a piece of waxed paper on top of the bars in the container and add a slice or two of apple on top of that. The apple will help keep the bars nice and soft.

Let bars age for 1 to 2 weeks for best flavor.

*  *  *  *  *

Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

Updated on November 23, 2025