Lebkuchen Hearts

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, soft but not warm
  
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
  
• 1 tablespoon ginger
  
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest, finely minced
  
• 1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest, finely minced
  
• 3/4 cup molasses
  
• 1/3 cup honey
  
• 2 medium eggs, beaten
  
• 3 to 4 cups flour
  
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
  
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl, and beat in spices and zests. Heat molasses and honey to boiling, then cool for 10 minutes. Stir molasses mixture into butter, then beat in eggs. Sift 3 cups flour with soda and salt, and stir into batter. Stir in as much of the remaining flour as needed to get a soft dough (feels like a baby bottom). Shape into a ball and cover with plastic wrap. Chill until cold, overnight.

Roll dough 1/3-inch thick, cut into desired shapes and brush with slightly beaten egg white. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes on a greased sheet. Do not let edges brown. Cool 10 minutes. Decorate with a very stiff royal icing (recipe below) piped onto thoroughly cooled cookies.

Makes 3 dozen cookies.

Royal Icing

• 2 large egg whites
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 3 cups confectioners' (powdered or icing) sugar, sifted
• Food coloring, if desired

In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the egg whites with the lemon juice. Add the sifted powdered sugar and beat on low speed until combined and smooth. Add food coloring, if desired. For immediate use, transfer icing to pastry bag or heavy duty storage bag and pipe as desired. Store in an airtight container as icing hardens when exposed to air. Cover with plastic wrap when not in use.

Makes about 3 cups.

[Recipe via Lebkuchenherzen (Gingerbread Hearts)]

Woman with Lebkuchen Heart (Oktoberfest, Munich) Photographic Print

Decorate as you like. It is traditional to write cute sayings in the center and give the cookies to people you like.

• "Gruß aus München" ("Greetings from Munich")
  
• "Gruß vom Oktoberfest " ("Hello from the Oktoberfest ")
  
• "Ich liebe Dich" (I love you)
  
• "Ich mag Dich" (I like you)
  
• "Spatzl" (little sparrow)
  
• "Weil i Di mog" (Because I like you - in Munich dialect)
  
• "Für mein Mädl" (for my girl)
  
• "Ich hab Dich (sooo) lieb" (I like you sooo much)
  
• "Zum Muttertag (etc.)" (for mother's day)
  
• "Drücke mich" (hug me)
  
• "Markus + Claudia" (or Mike + Jen, etc.)
  
• "Meiner Kuschelmaus" (my snuggle-mouse)
  
• "No. 1 Lehrer" (Number One Teacher)
  
• "#1 Mutti" (Number 1 mother, etc.)