Grandma Wirth's Lebkuchen [no alcohol]
List of Ingredients
This recipe is cut in half from the original which used 10 pounds!!!! of
flour. Traditionally these are made right after Thanksgiving and aged in
big crocks with a cut up apple to keep them moist. My great-grandmother
used the candied fruit as called for in the recipe. My grandmother hated
the candied fruit, left them out and increased the raisins.
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. shortening (Crisco)
1 pt. honey
1 pt. dark molasses
1 pt. sour cream
4 1/2 c. dark brown sugar
5 c. walnuts (black walnuts are best)
1 large container candied fruit
2 lb. raisins, soaked in hot water and drained
5 eggs
2 tsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp cloves
1 Tbsp nutmeg
1 tsp allspice
2 1/2 to 3 tsp salt
4 tsp soda
5 lb. flour (more or less)
Whole almonds
Mix butter, shortening, honey, molasses, sour cream and brown sugar in
saucepan over low heat. When blended, cool a little but while still
somewhat warm, stir in coarsley chopped walnuts, candied fruit and eggs.
Stir 5 pounds of flour less 4 cups with the spices, salt and soda. Add
this to fruit and nut mixture. This mixture will be very firm. Add more
flour if needed. Mix this dough until you cannot possible add any more
flour into the dough. When it is very stiff, cover and put in refrigerator
overnight.
In the morning take small amounts of dough (keep rest in refrigerator) and
roll out 1/4 inch thick and cut into oblong shape using a Spam Can for
cookie cutter. Use as little flour as possible when rolling cookies. Place
on greased cookie sheet, press a whole almond in middle to decorate and
bake 8 to 10 minutes at 350-375 degrees. Do not overbake. They should be
done in the middle, but still soft and chewyRecipe
Her recipe said you could use hickory nuts or walnuts. Instead of the candied
fruit mix, she used candied orange peel, citron and lemon peel. If you
don't have a Spam Can cookie cutter roll the dough 1/2 inch thick and cut
in oblongs that are 1 1/2 inch by 2 1/2 inch
Sue Carlson
Great Grandma's recipe
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