(), or , are a honey-sweetened
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
** Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
cake
Cake is a flour confection made from flour, sugar, and other ingredients, and is usually baked. In their oldest forms, cakes were modifications of bread, but cakes now cover a wide range of preparations that can be simple or elaborate, ...
molded cookie or bar cookie that has become part of Germany's
Christmas traditions
Christmas traditions include a variety of customs, religious practices, rituals, and folklore associated with the celebration of Christmas. Many of these traditions vary by country or region, while others are practiced in a virtually identical m ...
. It is similar to
gingerbread.
Etymology
The
etymology
Etymology ()The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) – p. 633 "Etymology /ˌɛtɪˈmɒlədʒi/ the study of the class in words and the way their meanings have changed throughout time". is the study of the history of the Phonological chan ...
of ''Leb-'' in the term ''Lebkuchen'' is uncertain. Proposed derivations include: from the Latin ''libum'' (flat bread), from the Germanic word ''Laib'' (loaf), and from the Germanic word ''lebbe'' (very sweet). Another likely possibility is that it comes from the old term ''Leb-Honig'', the rather solid crystallized
honey
Honey is a sweet and viscous substance made by several bees, the best-known of which are honey bees. Honey is made and stored to nourish bee colonies. Bees produce honey by gathering and then refining the sugary secretions of plants (primar ...
taken from the
hive
A hive may refer to a beehive, an enclosed structure in which some honey bee species live and raise their young.
Hive or hives may also refer to:
Arts
* ''Hive'' (game), an abstract-strategy board game published in 2001
* "Hive" (song), a 201 ...
, that cannot be used for much beside baking.
Folk etymology
Folk etymology (also known as popular etymology, analogical reformation, reanalysis, morphological reanalysis or etymological reinterpretation) is a change in a word or phrase resulting from the replacement of an unfamiliar form by a more famili ...
often associates the name with ''Leben'' (life), ''Leib'' (body), or ''Leibspeise'' (favorite food). ''Kuchen'' means 'cake'.
History
![Lebkuechner Landauer](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Lebkuechner_Landauer.jpg)
Bakers noticed that honey-sweetened dough would undergo a natural
fermentation
Fermentation is a metabolic process that produces chemical changes in organic substrates through the action of enzymes. In biochemistry, it is narrowly defined as the extraction of energy from carbohydrates in the absence of oxygen. In food ...
process when stored in a cool location for several weeks, creating bubbles that would improve the quality of the bread. ''Lebkuchen'' was started in November and baked in December after undergoing this fermentation period.
Lebkuchen was invented by monks in
Franconia
Franconia (german: Franken, ; Franconian dialect: ''Franggn'' ; bar, Frankn) is a region of Germany, characterised by its culture and Franconian dialect (German: ''Fränkisch'').
The three administrative regions of Lower, Middle and Upper Fr ...
, Germany, in the 13th century. ''Lebkuchen'' bakers were recorded as early as 1296 in
Ulm
Ulm () is a city in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the river Danube on the border with Bavaria. The city, which has an estimated population of more than 126,000 (2018), forms an urban district of its own (german: link=no, ...
, and 1395 in
Nürnberg
Nuremberg ( ; german: link=no, Nürnberg ; in the local East Franconian dialect: ''Nämberch'' ) is the second-largest city of the German state of Bavaria after its capital Munich, and its 518,370 (2019) inhabitants make it the 14th-largest ci ...
(Nuremberg). The latter is the most famous exporter today of the product known as ''Nürnberger Lebkuchen'' (Nuremberg Lebkuchen).
Local history in Nuremberg relates that emperor
Friedrich III Frederick III may refer to:
* Frederick III, Duke of Upper Lorraine (died 1033)
* Frederick III, Duke of Swabia (1122–1190)
* Friedrich III, Burgrave of Nuremberg (1220–1297)
* Frederick III, Duke of Lorraine (1240–1302)
* Frederick III of S ...
held a
Reichstag there in 1487 and he invited the children of the city to a special event where he presented Lebkuchen bearing his
printed
Printing is a process for mass reproducing text and images using a master form or template. The earliest non-paper products involving printing include cylinder seals and objects such as the Cyrus Cylinder and the Cylinders of Nabonidus. The ea ...
portrait to almost four thousand children. Historically, and due to differences in the ingredients, ''Lebkuchen'' is also known as "honey cake" (
Honigkuchen) or "pepper cake" (
Pfefferkuchen
(), or , are a honey-sweetened German cake molded cookie or bar cookie that has become part of Germany's Christmas traditions. It is similar to gingerbread.
Etymology
The etymology of ''Leb-'' in the term ''Lebkuchen'' is uncertain. Prop ...
). Traditionally, the cookies are usually quite large and may be in diameter if round, and larger if rectangular. Unlike other cities where women could bake and sell the holiday cookies at will, in Nuremberg only members of the baker's guild were allowed to bake the cookies.
![OHM - Marzipanmodel 1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/OHM_-_Marzipanmodel_1.jpg)
Since 1808, a variety of Nürnberg Lebkuchen made without flour has been called ''Elisenlebkuchen''. It is uncertain whether Elise was the daughter of a gingerbread baker or the wife of a
margrave
Margrave was originally the medieval title for the military commander assigned to maintain the defence of one of the border provinces of the Holy Roman Empire or of a kingdom. That position became hereditary in certain feudal families in the Em ...
. Her name is associated with some of the Lebkuchen produced by members of the guild. Since 1996, ''
Nürnberger Lebkuchen'' is a
protected designation of origin
The protected designation of origin (PDO) is a type of geographical indication of the European Union and the United Kingdom aimed at preserving the designations of origin of food-related products. The designation was created in 1992 and its main ...
, meaning that it must be produced within the boundaries of the city.
Types
''Lebkuchen'' range in taste from spicy to sweet and come in a variety of shapes with round being the most common. The ingredients usually include
honey
Honey is a sweet and viscous substance made by several bees, the best-known of which are honey bees. Honey is made and stored to nourish bee colonies. Bees produce honey by gathering and then refining the sugary secretions of plants (primar ...
,
spice
A spice is a seed, fruit, root, bark, or other plant substance primarily used for flavoring or coloring food. Spices are distinguished from herbs, which are the leaves, flowers, or stems of plants used for flavoring or as a garnish. Spices a ...
s such as
aniseed
Anise (; '), also called aniseed or rarely anix is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae native to Eurasia.
The flavor and aroma of its seeds have similarities with some other spices and herbs, such as star anise, fennel, licorice, and t ...
,
,
clove
Cloves are the aromatic flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae, ''Syzygium aromaticum'' (). They are native to the Maluku Islands (or Moluccas) in Indonesia, and are commonly used as a spice, flavoring or fragrance in consumer products, ...
s,
ginger
Ginger (''Zingiber officinale'') is a flowering plant whose rhizome, ginger root or ginger, is widely used as a spice
A spice is a seed, fruit, root, bark, or other plant substance primarily used for flavoring or coloring food. Spices ...
,
cardamom
Cardamom (), sometimes cardamon or cardamum, is a spice made from the seeds of several plants in the genera ''Elettaria'' and ''Amomum'' in the family Zingiberaceae. Both genera are native to the Indian subcontinent and Indonesia. They are r ...
, and
allspice, nuts including
almond
The almond (''Prunus amygdalus'', syn. ''Prunus dulcis'') is a species of tree native to Iran and surrounding countries, including the Levant. The almond is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree. Within the genus ...
s,
hazelnut
The hazelnut is the fruit of the hazel tree and therefore includes any of the nuts deriving from species of the genus ''Corylus'', especially the nuts of the species ''Corylus avellana''. They are also known as cobnuts or filberts according t ...
s, and
walnut
A walnut is the edible seed of a drupe of any tree of the genus ''Juglans'' (family Juglandaceae), particularly the Persian or English walnut, '' Juglans regia''.
Although culinarily considered a "nut" and used as such, it is not a true ...
s, or
candied fruit
Candied fruit, also known as glacé fruit, is whole fruit, smaller pieces of fruit, or pieces of peel, placed in heated sugar syrup, which absorbs the moisture from within the fruit and eventually preserves it. Depending on the size and type of ...
.
In Germany, types of ''Lebkuchen'' are distinguished by the kind of nuts used and their proportions.
Salt of Hartshorn and
potash
Potash () includes various mined and manufactured salts that contain potassium in water-soluble form. are often used for raising the dough. ''Lebkuchen'' dough is usually placed on a thin
wafer
A wafer is a crisp, often sweet, very thin, flat, light and dry biscuit, often used to decorate ice cream, and also used as a garnish on some sweet dishes. Wafers can also be made into cookies with cream flavoring sandwiched between them. They ...
base called an ''Oblate''. This was an idea of the monks, who used
unleavened
In cooking, a leavening agent () or raising agent, also called a leaven () or leavener, is any one of a number of substances used in doughs and batters that cause a foaming action (gas bubbles) that lightens and softens the mixture. An alterna ...
communion wafer
Sacramental bread, also called Communion bread, Eucharistic bread, the Lamb or simply the host ( la, hostia, lit=sacrificial victim), is the bread used in the Christian ritual of the Eucharist. Along with sacramental wine, it is one of two elemen ...
ingredients to prevent the dough from sticking. Typically, they are glazed or covered with very dark
chocolate
Chocolate is a food made from roasted and ground cacao seed kernels that is available as a liquid, solid, or paste, either on its own or as a flavoring agent in other foods. Cacao has been consumed in some form since at least the Olmec civ ...
or a thin sugar coating, but some are left uncoated.
''Lebkuchen'' is usually soft, but a harder type of ''Lebkuchen'' is used to produce ''Lebkuchenherzen'' ("''Lebkuchen'' hearts"), usually inscribed with
icing, which are available at many German regional fairs and
Christmas fairs. They are also sold as souvenirs at the
Oktoberfest
The Oktoberfest (; bar, Wiesn, Oktobafest) is the world's largest Volksfest, featuring a beer festival and a travelling carnival. It is held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It is a 16- to 18-day folk festival running from mid- or ...
and are inscribed with affectionate, sarcastic or obscene messages.
Another form is the "witch's house" (''Hexenhäusl'' or ''Hexenhäuschen''), made popular because of the fairy tales about
Hansel and Gretel
"Hansel and Gretel" (; german: Hänsel und Gretel ) is a German fairy tale collected by the German Brothers Grimm and published in 1812 in ''Grimm's Fairy Tales'' (KHM 15). It is also known as Little Step Brother and Little Step Sister.
Hansel ...
.
The closest German equivalent of the
gingerbread man
A gingerbread man or a Gingerbread man cookie is a biscuit or cookie made from gingerbread, usually in the shape of a stylized form / caricature of a human being, although other shapes, especially seasonal themes (Christmas, Halloween, Easter, et ...
is the ''
Honigkuchenpferd'' ("honey cake horse").
The Nuremberg type of "Lebkuchen" is also known as "Elisenlebkuchen" and must contain no less than 25 percent nuts and less than 10 percent wheat flour. The finest artisan lebkuchen bakeries in Nuremberg boast close to 40% nut content. ''Lebkuchen'' is sometimes packaged in richly decorated tins, chests, and boxes, which have become nostalgic collector items.
[Lebkuchen 101]
, Leckerlee, Retrieved 19 October 2016
Gallery
File:Lebkuchen-pile.jpg, An assortment of glazed and dark chocolate Lebkuchen
File:Nuernberger Lebkuchen 3183857869 0f3f7bcbe3.jpg, Different shapes of Lebkuchen on sale at the Christkindlesmarkt, Nuremberg
Christkindlesmarkt is a Christmas market that is held annually in Nuremberg, Germany. It takes place during Advent in the Hauptmarkt, the central square in Nuremberg’s old town, and in adjoining squares and streets. With about two million visi ...
File:Lebkuchen von Schmidt.jpg, Lebkuchen in retail packaging
See also
*
Aachener Printen
Aachener Printen are a type of Lebkuchen originating from the city of Aachen in Germany. Somewhat similar to gingerbread, they were originally sweetened with honey, but are now generally sweetened with a syrup made from sugar beets.
The term is ...
*
Basler Läckerli
*
Berner Haselnusslebkuchen
Berner Haselnusslebkuchen are ''Lebkuchen'' – traditional Christmas cakes – from Berne, Switzerland. Made from ground hazelnuts, they are not to be confused with the '' Berner Honiglebkuchen'', another Bernese specialty.
Composition and pr ...
*
Springerle
Springerle is a type of South German biscuit or cookie with an embossed design made by pressing a mold onto rolled dough and allowing the impression to dry before baking. This preserves the detail of the surface pattern. While historical molds sh ...
*
Speculaas
Speculaas (, , , , ) is a type of spiced shortcrust biscuit baked with speculaas spices.
Speculaas is usually flat in the shape of a picture and is especially popular around the feast of St. Nicholas and during the time of Advent. The old ...
*
List of chocolate-covered foods
This is a list of chocolate-covered foods. Chocolate is a typically sweet, usually brown, food preparation of ''Theobroma cacao'' seeds, roasted and ground, often flavored, as with vanilla. It is made in the form of a liquid, paste or in a block ...
*
List of German desserts
This is a list of German desserts. German cuisine has evolved as a national cuisine through centuries of social and political change with variations from region to region. The southern regions of Germany, including Bavaria and neighbouring Swabia, ...
*
Licitar
*
Pfeffernüsse
Pfeffernüsse are small spice cookies, popular as a holiday treat with Germans and ethnic Mennonites in North America. Similar cookies are made in Denmark, and The Netherlands, as well. They are called (plural, singular is ) in German, ' (s ...
References
External links
Lebkuchenon the ''German Food Guide''
Germans fall out of love with Lebkuchenat ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
''
593 Lebkuchen recipes on Chefkoch.de as of 4 March 2013
{{Authority control
Christmas food
Christmas in Germany
Biscuits
Anise
Chocolate-covered foods
Nut dishes
Fermented foods
German breads
Cookies
German cakes
Ginger dishes
Honey dishes