Lebkuchen Bars – Soft, Spiced German Gingerbread Bars

Lebkuchen is a beloved German Christmas classic known for its warm spices, honey-sweetened dough, and irresistibly soft texture. These Lebkuchen Bars take all the traditional flavors — cinnamon, ginger, citrus, and almonds — and transform them into an easy, sliceable treat. If you’ve ever tasted the gingerbread-style sweets sold at festive German Christmas markets, this recipe brings that magic right into your kitchen. Perfectly spiced, wonderfully moist, and topped with a simple glaze, these bars are an ideal holiday dessert to share.

Ingredients

For the Bars

1 ½ cups (180g) all-purpose flour

1 cup (100g) finely ground almonds or almond flour

1 cup (200g) brown sugar

½ cup (170g) honey

2 large eggs

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground ginger

½ tsp ground cloves

½ tsp nutmeg

¼ tsp cardamom (optional but traditional)

Zest of 1 orange

Zest of 1 lemon

1 tsp vanilla extract

¼ tsp salt

For the Glaze

1 cup (120g) powdered sugar

2–3 tbsp milk or orange juice

½ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Prepare the Dough
2. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
3. Line an 8×8-inch (20x20cm) baking pan with parchment paper.
4. In a medium saucepan, gently warm the honey until just thin and runny (do not boil).
5. In a large bowl, whisk together:

brown sugar

warmed honey

eggs

vanilla

5. Add in the orange and lemon zest and mix well.
6. Combine the Dry Ingredients
7. In another bowl, combine:

flour

ground almonds

baking powder

salt

cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and cardamom

7. Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and stir until a thick, sticky dough forms.
8. Bake
9. Spread the dough evenly into the prepared baking pan.
10. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the center is set.
11. Allow the bars to cool for 10 minutes before glazing.
12. Make the Glaze
13. whisk together powdered sugar, milk (or orange juice), and vanilla until smooth.
14. Pour over the warm bars and spread evenly.
15. Let the glaze set completely before slicing into squares or rectangles.

Tips

For even more authentic flavor, add finely chopped candied citrus peel.

Store in an airtight container — they get even softer and more flavorful the next day!