Muttis Chocolate Lebkuchen Food

CHOCOLATE LEBKUCHEN

Steps:

• Sift the flour, cinnamon, cloves, seeds, baking soda and powder together and set aside.
• Bring sugar, honey and water to boil in saucepan over moderate heat.
• Stir the chocolate, walnuts, fruit, eggs, and orange juice into honey mixture until blended.
• Blend the flour mixture in gradually.
• Store dough in tightly covered dish, at room temperature, for 3 days, to ripen.
• Preheat oven to 325°F
• Spread dough in greased 15" x 10" X 1" pan and bake at 325 F for 35 to 40 minutes.
• Cool. Wrap in foil and store till ready to use. (This keeps very well for weeks and improves in flavor on storing).
• When ready to use, unwrap, and sust with confectioners' sugar. Cut in 3" x 1" bars.

CHOCOLATE LEBKUCHEN

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the flour, sugar and salt; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Combine water and vanilla; gradually add to crumb mixture, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. , On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/16-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-1/2-in. round cookie cutter. Place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 325° until set, 8-10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. , For topping, in a small bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg and oil. Combine the oats, flour, nuts, cocoa, baking powder and spices; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Fold in candied peels. , Drop 1 rounded tablespoon topping onto each cookie; gently press down. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 325° until set, 13-16 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. , In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate and butter; stir until smooth. Dip each cookie halfway in chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set. Store in airtight containers.

CHOCOLATE LEBKUCHEN

Steps:

• Combine sugar, honey and water in a large saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil, then remove from the heat and set aside to cool. In a medium bowl, stir together the honey mixture with the chocolate chips, almonds, candied fruit, eggs, and orange juice. Sift together the flour, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, baking soda and baking powder; stir into the fruit and nut mixture. Tightly cover the bowl, and refrigerate for 2 to 3 days to blend the flavors.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan. Spread the dough evenly into the prepared pan.
• Bake for 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven. Cool and frost with the orange frosting.
• To make the orange frosting, put the confectioners' sugar in a small bowl, and beat in the orange juice 1 tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached. Spread over the cooled bars. Cut bars into diamond shapes, and place cinnamon candies on top then sprinkle with the green sugar.

MUTTI'S CHOCOLATE LEBKUCHEN

Steps:

• Combine sugar, honey and water in a 2-qt saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until it comes to a boil. Remove from heat. Pour into large bowl. Cool to room temperature. Add eggs and orange juice to cooled honey mixture. Beat 1 minute, using an electric mixer at medium speed. Add dry ingredients to egg mixture.\, beating 2 minutes at medium speed. Stir in walnuts, chocolate pieces and candied fruit. Spread batter in greased 151/2x101/2x1" jelly roll pan. Bake at 325 deg. for 35 minutes, or until top springs back when touched lightly with finger. Cool in pan on rack. Cover with aluminum foil. Store 3 days at room temperature to develop flavor. Dust with confectioners' sugar. Cut into 2" squares. Makes 35. Barb, instead of dusting with powdered sugar, I usually make a plain icing and flavor it with lemon juice.