Lebkuchen Cookies From Lebkuchen Schmidt

European Deli is excited to offer a selection of lebkuchen cookies from the Lebkuchen Schmidt company, imported from Europe, and shipped from our distribution center in Cedar Knolls, NJ. Our company is a leading importer of specialties from Germany, and we are now recognized as the sole importer of Lebkuchen Schmidt in the United States. A luxurious and decadent treat, lebkuchen cookies from Lebkuchen Schmidt are perfect for the holiday season, or any special occasion. Shop our selection today!

All About Lebkuchen

Lebkuchen originate from the honey cakes that were baked by Egyptians centuries ago as an offering to their deities. The honey cakes we are familiar with today, however, were invented by monks in Franconia, Germany, or modern-day Bavaria, in the 13th century. During this time Nuremberg thrived as an exporter of the product, largely due to its strategic positioning along the crossroads of the ancient spice trade routes, giving it access to the then-exotic spices found in lebkuchen, as well as the city's proximity to several dense forests, which provided the city with a vast source of honey, a key ingredient in Lebkuchen. Today, Nuremberg (and the surrounding areas) continue this production, using the spices and natural ingredients found within their region to produce lebkuchen year-round.

Lebkuchen Characteristics

Lebkuchen, pronounced "layb-koo-kuh-n", is a honey-sweetened German cake molded cookie, or bar cookie, made from honey, flour, spices, and nuts. Similar to its European counterpart gingerbread, Lebkuchen differs in its soft, dense, and often nutty flavor profile, as well as its overall texture, which is often soft and cake-like. These cakes, cookies, and bars are often decorated with icing and sugar crystals and can be shaped into many different designs. Because of this, lebkuchen cookies are a popular treat during the Christmas season.

Lebkuchen Varieties

Lebkuchen is a type of German gingerbread distinguished by the kind of nuts used and their proportions. The most popular type is Nuremberg Lebkuchen, or Elisenlebkuchen in Germany. This lebkuchen variety is differentiated by the use of almost no flour within its recipe, as well as its high ratio of nuts, specifically a combination of almonds and hazelnuts. Additionally, Nuremberg Lebkuchen typically contain marzipan (almond paste), candied citron, and orange peel, and they always have an edible wafer (known as Oblaten or Back Oblaten) on the bottom. These delicacies are served rather large, most often rounded, but sometimes rectangular, and you will often find them packaged in decorative tins intended to be shared as holiday gifts.