Nürnberger Lebkuchen with almonds and sugar coating, of the Elisen type (Elisenlebkuchen)

Lebkuchen (or Pfefferkuchen) is a traditional German product baked for Christmas, somewhat resembling soft gingerbread. Similar cookies have a history that extends back to the Egyptians, but the style of the traditional Lebkuchen probably was invented by Medieval monks in Franconia, Germany in the 13th century. Lebkuchen bakers were recorded as early as 1296 in Ulm, and 1395 in Nürnberg. The latter being the most famous exporter today, of the product that is known as Nürnberger Lebkuchen (Nürnberg Lebkuchen). For other uses, see Christmas (disambiguation). ... Gingerbread cookies Gingerbread in cake form A Lebkuchen house Traditional ToruÅ„ gingerbread Gingerbread is a sweet that can take the form of a cake or a cookie in which the predominant flavor is ginger. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... For other uses, see Franconia (disambiguation). ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... March 30 - Edward I stormed Berwick-upon-Tweed, sacking the then Scottish border town with much bloodshed. ... For other uses, see Ulm (disambiguation). ... Events End of reign of Hungary by Capet-Anjou family. ... Nuremberg coat of arms Location of Nuremberg Nuremberg (German: Nürnberg) is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. ...

Local history in Nuremberg relates that emperor Friedrich III held a Reichstag there in 1487 and he invited the children of the city to a special event where he presented Lebkuchen bearing his printed portrait to almost four thousand children. Emperor Frederick III Frederick III of Habsburg (Innsbruck, September 21, 1415 – August 19, 1493 in Linz) was elected as German King as the successor of Albert II in 1440. ... The Reichstag (German for Imperial Diet) was the parliament of the Holy Roman Empire, the North German Confederation, and of Germany until 1945. ... Events Richard Fox becomes Bishop of Exeter. ... Printing is an industrial process for reproducing copies of texts and images, typically with ink on paper using a printing press. ...

Historically, and due to differences in the ingredients, Lebkuchen is also known as honey cake (de:Honigkuchen) or pepper cake (de:Pfefferkuchen). Traditionally, the cookies are usually quite large and may be four and a half inches in diameter if round, and larger if rectangular.

Sometimes Lebkuchen is packaged in richly decorated tins, chests, and boxes which have become nostalgic collector items. Lebkuchen range in taste from spicy to sweet and come in a variety of shapes with round being the most common. The ingredients usually include honey, spices such as aniseed, coriander, cloves, ginger, cardamom, and allspice, nuts including almonds, hazelnuts, and walnuts, or candied fruit. The proportion of content of the type of nuts often determines the value. Salt of Hartshorn and Potash are often used for raising the dough. Lebkuchen dough is usually placed on a thin wafer base called Oblate. This was an idea of the monks, who used unleavened communion wafer ingredients to prevent the dough from sticking. Typically, they are glazed or covered with very dark chocolate, but some are left uncoated. For other uses, see Honey (disambiguation). ... Ammonium carbonate. ... Potash Potash (or carbonate of potash) is an impure form of potassium carbonate (K2CO3). ...

The forerunner of today's Lebkuchen was called the "honey cake" and its history can be traced back to the Egyptians, the Greeks, and the Romans. They believed that honey, the only sweetener widely available to them, was a gift of the deities and had magical and healing powers. Honey cakes also were worn as a talisman in battle or as protection against evil spirits. Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. ... For other uses, see Honey (disambiguation). ... The Sorceress by John William Waterhouse Magic, sometimes known as sorcery, is a conceptual system that asserts human ability to control the natural world (including events, objects, people, and physical phenomena) through mystical, paranormal or supernatural means. ...

Honigkuchenpferd - the only figure made as Lebkuchen

Since 1808, a variety of Nürnberg Lebkuchen of high quality (no flour) has been called Elisenlebkuchen. It is uncertain whether the name Elise refers to the daughter of a gingerbread baker or the wife of a margrave. Her name is associated with the finest of the Lebkuchen produced by members of the guild. Since 1996, de:Nürnberger Lebkuchen is a Protected Designation of Origin and must be produced within the boundaries of the city. Year 1808 (MDCCCVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Margrave (Latin: marchio) is the English and French form (recorded since 1551) of the German title Markgraf (from Mark march and Graf count) and certain equivalent nobiliary (princely) titles in other languages. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Protected geographical indications in the European Union. ...

Lebkuchen is usually soft, but a harder type of Lebkuchen is used to produce Lebkuchen Hearts, usually inscribed with icing, which are available at many German fairs, and the witch houses made popular because of the fairy tales about Hansel and Gretel. The closest German equivalent of the gingerbread man is the de:Honigkuchenpferd (honey cake horse). This cake has an icing made with sour cream. ... Artwork by Arthur Rackham, 1909. ... A gingerbread man is an anthropomorphic (human-like) figure made of gingerbread. ...

The etymology of the term Lebkuchen is uncertain. Derivations from the Latin libum (flat bread) and from the Germanic word Laib (loaf) have been proposed. Another likely possibility is that it comes from the old term Leb-Honig, the rather solid crystallized honey taken from the hive, that can not be used for much beside baking. Folk etymology often associates the name with Leben (life), Leib (body), or Leibspeise (favorite food). Etymologies redirects here. ... Folk etymology is a term used in two distinct ways: A commonly held misunderstanding of the origin of a particular word, a false etymology. ...

See also

Non-traditional decorated Lebkuchen hearts

• Aachener Printen
• Basler Leckerli
• Arzberger Lebkuchen
• Bentheimer Moppen
• Pulsnitzer Pfefferkuchen
• Thorner Kathrinchen

18th century Printen cast Aachener Printen are a type of Lebkuchen originating from the city of Aachen in Germany. ...

External links

• Traditional Lebkuchen Recipe