I suppose I could have saved this recipe for December 2015 but these came out SO amazing, I just had to share. These chewy, luscious brownies are loaded with German lebkuchen flavor both in the brownie itself and in the frosting.
Lebkuchen is a spice mix similar to gingerbread used in German holiday baking. You can substitute equal amounts of any gingerbread spice mix in this Lebkuchen Spice Brownies recipe. A run-of-the-mill gingerbread spice mix contains powdered versions of ginger, clove, nutmeg, and allspice. Sometimes there is cardamom and/or black pepper thrown in. Lebkuchen has anise seed and/or star anise, infusing the mix with a hint of licorice flavor. My lebkuchen spice recipe is below.
The Spicy Story Behind this German Spice
First, let’s talk about magic in these Lebkuchen Spice Brownies. No, not the fairy-tale kind, but the culinary kind that makes your kitchen smell like Christmas. Yes, I’m talking about German Lebkuchen spice. This fragrant blend has a history as rich as its flavor, and it’s about to take you on a tasty time-travel adventure.
To begin with, Lebkuchen isn’t new. In fact, it dates all the way back to the Middle Ages. Back then, sugar was rare, so bakers relied on honey. Naturally, they needed something extra to make those honey cakes special. Enter spices—cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, and more. However, these weren’t local pantry staples. They traveled thousands of miles along trade routes before arriving in Europe, which made them a pure luxury.
Meanwhile, German monks started baking these spiced honey cakes for holidays. Consequently, they became a festive tradition. By the 15th century, Nuremberg had turned into the Lebkuchen capital of the world. Why? Because it sat on major spice trade routes and had a reputation for high-quality baking. As a result, Lebkuchen became a symbol of wealth, celebration, and indulgence.
Over time, the spice blend evolved. Today, when you mix cinnamon for warmth, cloves for depth, ginger for zing, and cardamom for mystery, you’re recreating centuries of flavor. In other words, every pinch of Lebkuchen spice is like a tiny history lesson you can taste.
So, the next time you bite into a chewy, nutty, perfectly spiced confections, like these Lebkuchen Spice Brownies, remember this: those flavors once sailed across oceans, crossed mountains, and landed straight in your holiday tin. Therefore, this isn’t just a spice mix—it’s a cultural treasure.
Lebkuchen Spice Brownies
Ingredients
For the Lebkuchen Brownies:
- 1+1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoons lebkuchen or gingerbread spices
- 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
- 1+ 1/4 cup white granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon bourbon optional
- 4 large eggs
- Powdered sugar for decoration if desired to replace the frosting
For the Lebkuchen Frosting:
- 2 teaspoons lebkuchen or gingerbread spice
- 1+ 1/2 tablespoons espresso powder
- Pinch salt
- 4 tablespoons unsalted softened butter
- 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1+1/2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
Make the brownies:
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Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F.
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Grease a 9 X 12-inch baking pan, and line it with parchment paper. Let the paper overhang at least 2 inches on all sides. Grease the paper inside the pan.
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In a separate bowl whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, lebkuchen or gingerbread spices, espresso powder, and salt. Set aside.
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Melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips and the unsalted butter together over a double boiler.
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Whisk in the white granulated sugar, pure vanilla extract, and, if desired, the bourbon.
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Once the sugar dissolves, remove the mixture from heat and let the mixture cool completely.
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Crack the eggs into a separate bowl and lightly beat them with a fork.
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Add the beaten eggs to the cooled butter, chocolate, and sugar mixture and whisk briskly until the eggs have been completely combined into the batter.
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Fold the mixture into the dry ingredients and scrape the brownie batter into the prepared pan.
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Bake for 45 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center of the pan comes out clean.
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Remove from oven, let stand in the pan for 15 minutes, then use the overlapping parchment paper to transfer the uncut brownies to a wire rack.
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Let the brownies cool completely before frosting.
Make the Frosting:
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In a small bowl, whisk together the lebkuchen or gingerbread spice mix with the espresso powder and a pinch of salt.
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Place the unsalted butter and unsweetened cocoa powder in a mixer, and beat until combined. Add the pure vanilla extract and the heavy cream.
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Stop the mixer and add the powdered sugar. Turn the mixer on the lowest speed and mix until the powdered sugar is completely incorporated into the frosting.
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If the frosting is too thick for your liking, add some more heavy cream a teaspoon at a time until you achieve the desired consistency. If the frosting is too thin, add more powdered sugar to stiffen it a bit.
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Use a pastry knife to spread the frosting over the brownies.
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Cut into squares, plate, and serve.
Lebkuchen Spice Recipe:
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon teaspoon ground anise
- 1/2 teaspoon ground star anise
Instructions
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Whisk all the ingredients together in a small bowl.
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Transfer to an airtight container.
So, do you like these Lebkuchen Spice Brownies? Then also check out some of these other delicious recipes:
LEBKUCHEN SPICE MARTINI
RED WINE LEBKUCHEN CAKES
LEBKUCHEN CHOCOLATE CHIP ICE CREAM
