The holiday season is here, and I always find myself drawn to the kitchen, eager to experiment with flavors that capture the spirit of the season. This year, I’m excited to share a new recipe: Lebkuchen Spiced Cookies with Apricots, Cranberries, and Candied Walnuts. It’s a twist on a beloved German tradition, infused with some of my favorite Christmas flavors.

For me, cranberries are a symbol of Christmas. Whether it’s cranberry sauce at the bottom of a pumpkin pie, candied cranberries in trifle, or just on their own, cranberries are the taste of the holidays.

At first glance, you might think these are just gingerbread cookies, and you wouldn’t be entirely wrong—Lebkuchen does translate to gingerbread. But once you taste them, you’ll see that you’re not entirely right, either. Lebkuchen is something more. The key differences lie in the spices and the texture. While American gingerbread is often crisp (think gingerbread men), Lebkuchen is soft, somewhere between cakey and cookie-like, with a rich blend of spices that goes far beyond the usual cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.

Lebkuchen dates back to 1296, originally a spiced honey cake baked by monks who cherished its complex flavors. The word “Lebkuchen” itself didn’t appear until the 1400s, but the idea of spiced honey cakes has endured through centuries. While there’s no single “Lebkuchen spice,” the blends I’ve found in my research feature a deeper, more varied spice profile than traditional gingerbread.

These cookies are a nod to Lebkuchen’s rich history, with a personal holiday twist. Dried apricots, cranberries, and candied walnuts add bursts of tang, chew, and crunch, perfectly complementing the warm spices to create a cookie that’s rich, festive, and unforgettable.

Lebkuchen Spiced Cookies with Apricots, Cranberries, and Candied Walnuts make a delightful addition to any holiday spread. After all, the holidays are all about blending tradition, flavor, and a touch of personal meaning.

If you’re looking for a new cookie to try this season, I hope these cookies will become a part of your celebration. With each bite, you’ll taste history, nostalgia, and a little bit of Christmas magic.

Lebkuchen-Spiced Holiday Cookies

Recipe by Sarah Clapp

0.0 from 0 votes

Difficulty: Easy

Servings

Adjust servings

+

–

2

Dozen

Prep time

15

minutes

Baking time

10

minutes

Total time

25

minutes

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup room temperature butter

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 egg

• 1/4 cup molasses

• 2 3/4 cups flour

• 2 1/2 tablespoons Lebkuchen spice

• 2 teaspoons baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/3 cup chopped dried apricots

• 1/3 cup dried cranberries

• 1/3 cup chopped candied walnuts

Directions

• Lebkuchen-Spiced Holiday Cookie Dough
• In a bowl, whisk together flour, Lebkuchen spice, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a regular bowl with a wooden spoon, cream together butter and sugar. After creaming, the butter should be light and fluffy, as well as slightly increased in volume.
• Add egg and molasses, and mix until just combined.
• Stir in the flour, spice, baking powder, and salt until a dough forms. Add the chopped fruit and walnuts. The dough should be soft to the touch, but not sticky. If the dough is sticky, add flour one tablespoon at a time, stirring each in completely before adding another. If it feels too dry, add milk or water one tablespoon at a time.
• Assembly
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough, roll into balls, and place on a lined baking sheet, spaced 2 to 3 inches apart.
• Bake on the middle rack for 10 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet for about 3 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.