Description
Soft, chewy German honey-spice bars with almonds and golden raisins, baked in a pan and finished with a sweet lemon glaze, an easy pan version of classic Lebkuchen.
Ingredients
3/4 cup (150 g) firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup (113 g) butter, softened
1/3 cup (112 g) honey
1 large egg
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
2 1/2 cups (312 g) all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup (about 40 g) finely chopped blanched almonds
1/3 cup (about 55 g) chopped golden raisins
For the glaze: 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
For the glaze: 2 tablespoons lemon juice
For the glaze: 1 teaspoon honey
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a 13 x 9-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, beat the brown sugar, butter, honey, egg, lemon juice, and lemon zest until well combined.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, and salt. Stir the dry ingredients into the honey mixture until a thick, soft dough forms.
4. Stir in the almonds and golden raisins.
5. Press the dough evenly into the prepared pan, using lightly floured or damp fingers.
6. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. While the bars bake, whisk the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and honey until smooth, adding a few drops more lemon juice if needed for a spreadable glaze.
8. Spread the glaze over the warm bars. Cool completely in the pan, then cut into 24 bars.
Notes
Based on the German Lebkuchen Bars recipe published by Land O’Lakes (3/4 cup brown sugar, 1/3 cup honey, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and lemon zest, 2 1/2 cups flour, 1/3 cup chopped almonds, 1/3 cup golden raisins, a 350°F oven, a 13 x 9-inch pan, an 18 to 20 minute bake, a powdered sugar, lemon juice, and honey glaze, and a yield of 24 bars are from the source). The amounts of butter, baking soda, spices, salt, lemon zest, and glaze, and the mixing method are estimates, because the full quantities were not available to us. The recipe has not been tested.
The dough is thick and sticky, so press it into the pan with damp or lightly floured fingers.
Glaze the bars while they are still warm so the glaze sets into a thin, shiny coat.
Nutrition is an approximate estimate per bar (24 bars), including the glaze.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: German
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 161
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 54mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 18mg