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From Monks to Markets
Why were Monks the first to make Lebkuchen?
Why a Monastary,
and Why Nuremberg?

Go right to the History

Normally I wouldn't be quite excited about a history, but this one starts at the
discovery Waaaaay back in the 11th century, when they found that mixing dough
with honey. I can be molasses or sugar as well.

When I first made my grandma's recipe I thought how strange that you let this sit
for at least a week before you use it. But I had some I let sit for a year and it was
awesome!

Go Here to Read about Incredible
History
of
Lebkuchen

A recipe book and short biography of my Grandmother Emma Block. Her recipes, culture and cooking styles that were brought over from Germany. How they evolved when she came to America in the early 1900s and settled in Portland, Oregon on the west coast of the United States. Over 100 recipes

Bonus Recipes with the Ebook and recipes with step by step pictures

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Biography of my grandma
Emma Block
From Germany with Love tells the story of my grandma, Emma Block, growing up in a little town in Baden/ Würtemberg, Germany near Heidelberg named Steinsfurt. Then at the age of 15 immigrating to the United States, taking a train with one of her sisters and brothers to Hamburg and sailing the Atlantic with other hope filled Germans wanting to make a life in the "New World". It was not easy but with good values learned in her German upbringing made a full life, had a wonderful family with lots of fun and celebration including the great German meals.

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Braune Lebkuchen

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Go Here to make Braune Lebkuchen
with
Step by Step Pictures

Lebkuchen
(Cake Like or Bar Cookie)

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Lebkuchen is not just a cookie it can be a cake to be served as a dessert or a Bar Cookie you can bake in a glass baking dish and cut into squares.
All the good spices, nuts and candied citrus in regular Lebkuchen.

Go here to make
Lebkuchen
Cake Like or Bar Cookie
with
Step by Step Pictures

Elisenlebkuchen

The premium Lebkuchen purely
ground nuts, and spices and candied citrus peel

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I know these don't look as perfect as the ones from
Lebkuchen Schmidt, but they are every bit as delicious.

A simple recipe, with just ground nuts, spices and candied citrus peel,
and some egg whites to hold it together.
My grandmother never made these but she made some similar called
Hazelnut Makaronen

The Story of Elisenlebkuchen

(ee-LEE-zen LEB-kook-en)

Named after his special Daughter
Elizabeth

"Nuremberg" Lebkuchen is a special in that it is
baked on top of a rice wafer called "Back Oblaten"
These unleavened rice papers were used for communion sercices in church
and were perfect to bake this very light cookie of honey, and imported spice batter on.

The affection for Lebkuchen goes back a long ways to our ancestors, Not only Germany,but much of the world always saw honey as having magical powers. Spices that came into Nuremberg were very expensive so this special cookie was more than just a treat, folks paid debts with it, used it as a symbol of sacrifice, add it to your loved ones coffin, and warriors even carried it into battle for good luck.

Nuremberg was the perfect place to specialize in Lebkuchen as it was the center of the spice trade
and forest with lots of honey bees and beekeepers were nearby. So In the 14th century a special guild for Lebkuchen bakers and their special recipe which was mostly nuts, and could only contain a certain amount of flour to be authentic. I think today it is 10%.

Around 1710 as legend has it,
A special master Lebkuchen baker's daughter Elizabeth went very ill
the prognosis was not good. He had already lost his wife and
was desperate to save her so feeling that honey had special powers
and the spices from the Orient were known to have healing properties
he made a special lebkuchen with NO flour at all.
He fed this to his daughter and she recovered! In her honor he
named this special cookie Elisenlebkuchen.

I would say this is an unusual recipe for Elisenlebkuchen
because it uses only almonds and it has slivered almonds as well as ground almonds.
Most recipes call for just ground nuts, half almonds and half hazelnuts.
However with the expense of hazelnuts I thought it would be good to have an alternative.

Go here to Make
ElisenLebkuchen
With Step by Step Pictures

Pfeffernusse
Spicy little Lebkuchen spiced gems

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Early versions date back to the 14th century in Saxony, Germany,
when spices like pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg were luxury items.
These cookies were considered a delicacy, baked with flour, honey, and expensive spices

In 1753, Johann Fleischmann, a confectioner from Offenbach am Main,
created a celebrated recipe. Famous admirers included Goethe and composer
Felix Mendelssohn, who traveled specifically to buy them

By the 1820s, the Brothers Grimm even joked about their potency,
warning their sister not to eat too many because
of the “heat” from spices like nutmeg and cardamom,
which were thought to have aphrodisiac or invigorating qualities

By the 1850s, Pfeffernüsse had become firmly associated with
Christmas celebrations in Germany, a tradition that continues today

Go Here to Make
Pfeffernusse
With Step by Step Pictures

Zimtsterne
(Cinnamon Stars)

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Zimt=Cinnamon     Sterne=Stars

Dating back to at least the 16th century, Zimtsterne were once a luxury due to the high cost of cinnamon. They were typically found on the tables of noblemen before becoming accessible to everyone today. While strongly associated with the Christian Christmas tradition, they are also eaten by German Jews as part of the first meal after the Yom Kippur fast. 

Meringue is used a lot in German cookies and other desserts. Here it makes such a nice topping for these Cinnamon nut cookies. My grandmother made these and we still make them.

Go Here to Make
Zimptstene
with Step by Step Pictures