Old World German Honey Cookies Food

OLD GERMAN HONEY COOKIES

Steps:

• In a saucepan over low heat, melt together sugar, shortening and honey. Let cool.
• Mix together eggs, vanilla, baking soda and ginger. Gradually add to cooled honey mixture.
• Slowly add 4 cups of flour to mixture. Stir until well blended. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) until golden (about 12-15 minutes).

HONIGKUCHEN (GERMAN HONEY CAKE)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Use a paper towel to rub the softened butter over the bottom and sides of a jelly roll pan. Sprinkle 2 tbsp of flour over the butter and tip the pan from side to side to spread evenly. Invert the pan and tap to remove any excess flour.
• In a large bowl, stir together the 5 cups of flour, baking powder, ground almonds, coco, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, lemon peel, and almond extract. In a large saucepan, bring the honey, sugar, and water to boil over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Pour the hot honey mixture over the flour mixture and stir together until a smooth dough is formed.
• Spread the dough into the pan. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, or until the top is firm to the touch. Remove the pan from the oven and immediately sprinkle with slivered almonds, pressing them gently into the surface of the cake. Let the cake rest for 4-5 minutes, then cut. You can cut it into squares, rectangles, or any sort of fancy shape! Transfer pieces to a wire rack to cool.
• I've heard this is better if you store it wrapped in foil for several days before serving, but I've never done it.

OLD WORLD GERMAN HONEY COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375.
• In large saucepan over medium heat, melt lard, sugar and honey together. Set aside to cool.
• Whip eggs thoroughly. Slowly add ginger and vanilla.
• Mix in cooled honey mix slowly to temper the eggs.
• Slowly add in baking soda and flour mixing thoroughly.
• Place by spoonfuls on cookie sheet.
• Bake for about 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

LEBKUCHEN (GERMAN CHRISTMAS HONEY COOKIES)

Steps:

• Mix honey and molasses and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and cool completely.
• Stir in brown sugar, egg, lemon juice and lemon rind.
• Sift together flour, baking soda and spices, then stir into the honey-molasses mix.
• Mix in the citron and chopped nuts, place the dough in the refrigerator and chill overnight.
• Roll out a small amount of dough at a time to 1/4 inch thick, keeping the rest in the fridge. You can either cut out oblong shapes about 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" or just cut out circle shapes about 2" in diameter.
• Place on a GREASED baking sheet about 1" apart.
• Place 3 almonds on top of each cookie in a flower shape, and place in a 400 deg oven for 10-12 min or until no imprint remains when touched lightly.
• While cookies bake, make glaze by boiling the water and sugar to 230 degrees - until it just barely begins to thread.
• Remove from heat and stir in confectioners sugar.
• Brush the hot glaze lightly over the cookies (if it gets grainy reheat slightly with a little water to thin again).

SOFT HONEY COOKIES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, beat sugar and oil until blended. Beat in egg; beat in honey and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt; gradually add to sugar mixture and mix well (dough will be stiff). Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours., Preheat oven to 350°. Drop dough by tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto a greased baking sheet. Bake until bottoms are lightly browned, 8-10 minutes. Cool for 1 minute before removing from pan to a wire rack. Store in an airtight container.