Lebkuchen (German gingerbread) with honey and dates

Bake Lebkuchen (German gingerbread) with no refined sugar by using honey, dates or maple syrup instead of white sugar. The typical flavour comes from gingerbread spice with cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and allspice; the moist crumb comes from ground nuts and almonds. Here you’ll find Elisenlebkuchen (flourless nut gingerbread), Aachener Printen (spiced Aachen gingerbread), a honey gingerbread traybake and gingerbread men – vegan and gluten-free too. Honey is still sugar, so enjoy them in moderation.

All Lebkuchen recipes

Lebkuchen brownies with walnuts and honey – 223 kcal
Vegan Lebkuchen (German gingerbread) with spelt and maple syrup – 258 kcal
High-protein Lebkuchen cheesecake traybake – 313 kcal
Lebkuchen muffins with spelt and apple – 252 kcal
Vegan gingerbread energy balls with dates and walnuts – 180 kcal
Lebkuchen Gugelhupf with pear and walnuts – 299 kcal
Vegetarian gingerbread men with spelt and honey – 276 kcal
Gluten-free Elisenlebkuchen (flourless nut gingerbread) with hazelnuts and honey – 169 kcal
Swedish gingerbread cookies (pepparkakor) with ginger and cloves – 181 kcal
Magenbrot (glazed gingerbread bites) with gingerbread spice and cocoa glaze – 181 kcal
Honey Lebkuchen (German gingerbread) traybake with wholemeal spelt and walnuts – 128 kcal
Aachener Printen (spiced Aachen gingerbread) with wholemeal spelt and honey – 159 kcal
Paleo Lebkuchen hearts (German gingerbread) with almonds and honey – 218 kcal
High-protein Lebkuchen (German gingerbread) with skyr and hazelnuts – 270 kcal
Lebkuchen cookies with spelt and cacao nibs – 226 kcal
Lebkuchen traybake bars with carrots and cocoa glaze – 313 kcal

Frequently asked questions

Why does Lebkuchen only go soft after a few days?

Lebkuchen made with honey draws moisture from the air. Store it in a tin with a slice of apple and after two to three days it’s nice and soft. Swap the apple every few days.

What’s the difference between Elisenlebkuchen and other Lebkuchen?

Elisenlebkuchen are made mostly from nuts and almonds, with little or no flour. That makes them moist – and gluten-free if you bake them without wafer bases or on gluten-free ones.

Can I mix my own gingerbread spice?

Yes. For example, mix 4 tsp cinnamon with 1 tsp each of cloves, allspice and cardamom and ½ tsp each of nutmeg, ginger and coriander. In a screw-top jar it keeps for several months.