Lebkuchen, or Life Cake, is a very old German cake or cookie that is traditionally baked for holidays and special occasions.  Often baked into fanciful shapes this is the origin of gingerbread men and gingerbread houses.  Even at fairs today  you will find booths selling Lebkuchen cookies.  The most common shapes are highly decorated hearts.  The hearts are decorated with icing and often have sayings inscribed on them.  In the old days, a young man would buy a Lebkuchen heart for his girl and tie it to her sleeve.  It was believed that if she made it through the whole day of the fair without the heart being broken, that ment that they were truly in love.  This however, inspired other young men who fancied her to follow her around the byways of the fair with sticks, trying to break the heart.  Of course her young man would also arm himself with a stick with which to protect her and many a heated confrontation broke out.  AND, from this tradition we get the expression, “Sweet Heart.”  Also, “Broken Heart,” and “Wearing Your Heart on Your Sleeve.” 

The tradition crossed The Channel to England where it became a fareing, (something small and inexpensive that everyone who came to the fair could afford to buy).

“An I had but one penny in the world, thou shouldst have it to buy gingerbread at the fair.”

                                    Love’s Labour’s Lost, Act V, Scene 1 (Costard)

1 cup, (2 sticks or 1/2 pound) of butter or margarine

1 cup sugar

1 cup dark honey

1 egg

5 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 tablespoon ground ginger 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon ground anise 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom 1/4 teaspoon ground clove

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add the honey and egg and blend well.  Sift all dry ingredients together and add gradually to the molasses mixture, blending after each addition.  The dough will most likely be quite soft.  Divide the dough in half, form into balls, pat into disks about 1 inch thick and wrap in plastic wrap.  Refrigerate for at least three hours or overnight.

When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375°f (190°c or Gas mark 5).  Remove from the refrigerator one disk at a time and working on a lightly floured surface, roll to be about one-quarter inch thick. Cut out the shapes and place on a baking sheet that has been lined with Baker’s parchment.  The gingerbread men should be placed about one inch apart.  Bake in pre heated oven for about six to eight minute for a chewy texture, a bit longer for a crisp texture. * Remove from the oven and allow to cool.  When completely cooled you may decorate with butter cream icing. 

When decorating your Lebkuchen, be creative and fanciful.  Traditionally there are expressions of love inscribed with the icing.  Large hearts may even have a small mirror affixed with icing and the words, “Look here to see the one I love,” inscribed on the cookie.  Have fun.

*  If you wish to poke holes in the hearts and string with ribbons, bake them a bit longer so they will be harder.

Of course,  you don’t have to make Lebkuchen for Valentine’s Day.  You can make Sugar Cookies, cut them into hearts and decorate them.