Lebkuchen Bars 🎄🍪
Inspired by traditional German Lebkuchen (gingerbread cookies), these bars are soft, spiced, and perfect for the holidays. They combine warm spices, a tender crumb, and a sweet glaze or chocolate topping.
Ingredients (12–16 bars)
Dry Ingredients
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2 cups all-purpose flour
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1 tsp baking soda
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½ tsp baking powder
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½ tsp salt
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2 tsp ground cinnamon
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1 tsp ground ginger
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½ tsp ground cloves
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¼ tsp ground nutmeg
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¼ tsp allspice
Wet Ingredients
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½ cup unsalted butter, softened
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½ cup brown sugar, packed
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½ cup honey or maple syrup
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1 large egg
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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¼ cup milk
Optional Add-Ins
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½ cup chopped nuts (almonds or hazelnuts)
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½ cup candied ginger or dried fruit
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½ cup chocolate chips (optional)
Glaze or Topping
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1 cup powdered sugar
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2–3 tsp milk or lemon juice
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Optional: drizzle melted dark chocolate
Instructions
1. Preheat & Prep
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
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Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients
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In a bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices.
3. Mix Wet Ingredients
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Beat butter and brown sugar until fluffy.
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Add honey, egg, vanilla, and milk; mix until smooth.
4. Combine
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Gradually fold dry ingredients into wet mixture.
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Stir in optional nuts, dried fruit, or chocolate chips.
5. Bake
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Spread batter evenly in prepared pan.
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Bake 20–25 minutes, or until a toothpick in the center comes out mostly clean (slightly soft is fine).
6. Glaze
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Cool completely.
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Whisk powdered sugar with milk or lemon juice until smooth.
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Drizzle or spread over cooled bars.
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Optional: drizzle melted chocolate for a festive touch.
7. Slice & Serve
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Cut into bars or squares.
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Store in an airtight container up to 5 days (or freeze for longer).
Texture & Flavor
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Soft, slightly chewy, and spiced
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Sweet honey undertones with warm gingerbread spices
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Optional crunch from nuts
Tips
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For extra depth, use dark honey or molasses
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Chill bars slightly before glazing to prevent glaze from melting
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Toast nuts for more flavor
Variations
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Chocolate Lebkuchen Bars: Add ½ cup cocoa powder and ½ cup chocolate chips
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Gluten-Free: Substitute 1:1 gluten-free flour
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Festive: Top with crushed candied ginger or festive sprinkles
I can also create a mini muffin version, a chewy layered Lebkuchen bar with chocolate glaze, or a traditional soft European-style Lebkuchen sheet cake if you want a more decadent holiday version