German Cookie Recipes

Who doesn't like cookies? From toddlers to oldies, Americans to Australians, everyone has a sweet tooth when it comes to cookies. Almost every country has its own traditional brand of cookies which have become legendary over time. Here we take a look at some vintage German cookie recipes which are easy to bake and will have you licking your fingers!

Lebkuchen (German Gingerbread Cookie)

Ingredients:

• 250 grams flour
• 85 grams butter
• 85 grams almonds(chopped)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp ginger (ground)
• 1 tsp cinnamon (ground)
• 1 lemon zest (finely grated)
• 200 ml honey
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 1 pinch cloves (ground)
• 1 pinch grated nutmeg
• 1 pinch black pepper

Icing:

• 1 egg white (beaten)
• 100 grams icing sugar
• 2 tsp water

Procedure:

Mix the flour along with the other dry ingredients in a large bowl. Heat the honey and butter in a pan over a low flame until the butter melts. Once done, pour it into the flour mixture and add the lemon zest. Mix the ingredients well until the dough becomes relatively hard and solid. Cover the mixture and let it cool.

Preheat the oven to 180^oC. Roll the hardened dough into the desired cookie shapes (preferably circular disc-shaped biscuits). Line the baking trays with a baking parchment and place the biscuits in such a way that there is enough room for the biscuits to expand during the baking process. Bake for 15 minutes and then let the biscuits cool on a separate rack. Mix the icing ingredients to form a smooth and consistent icing. Dip the upper surface of the biscuit in the icing and spread it evenly. Leave them to dry on a warm rack.

German Chocolate Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 package (18 ¼ ounce) German chocolate cake mix
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• ½ cup butter (molten)
• ½ cup quick-cooking oatmeal
• ½ cup raisins
• 2 eggs (medium-to-large sized)

Procedure:

Pour the chocolate cake mix, oatmeal, eggs and the molten butter into a large bowl and mix the ingredients well. Add the chocolate chips and raisins and stir the mixture until it becomes consistent. Mold the mixture into small circular cookies and place them on ungreased baking sheets.

Preheat the oven at 175^oC. Bake the cookies for 10 minutes. Once ready, let them cool on separate wire racks.

German Troco Nut Cookies

Ingredients:

• 6 cups flour (plain)
• 1 lb butter (softened)
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 eggs (medium-sized)
• 1 ½ cup dark brown sugar
• 1 ½ tsp baking soda
• 1 ½ cup pecans (chopped, medium-fine)

Procedure:

Pour all the ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Stir the mixture well until it is smooth and consistent. Make 3-4 cm thick rectangular rolls out of the mixture. Wrap them in wax paper and refrigerate overnight.

Preheat the oven at 180^oC. Using a sharp knife, cut the hardened rolls into thin slices. Place them on ungreased baking sheets and bake for 10 minutes. Once done, leave them for cooling on a warm rack.

Generally, German biscuits, cookies and brownies are in demand the whole year round, especially during the holiday season, which is when their popularity and consequent sales go through the roof.

Enjoy your cookies! Bon Apétit!