This is a family favorite from my Grandmother Susan. She called them German Love Cakes and always gave them to young couples at Christmas.

Lebkuchen

¼ cup butter (not margarine)
½ cup honey
¼ cup molasses
2 ½ cups flour
½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp allspice
¼ tsp cloves
¾ cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp lemon rind
1 cup blanched almonds (chopped fine)
1 cup citron peel or mixed peel (I used ½ cup citron, ½ cup mixed peel)

Combine butter, honey and molasses and bring to boiling point (let cool).
Beat egg with sugar and lemon rind.
Add honey mixture.
Add sifted dry ingredients 1/3 at a time and mix by hand until well blended.
Stir in chopped nuts and citron peel.
Chill in the fridge for about ½ hour.
Roll to ¼ inch thick and place on a greased cookie sheet… (I just press it into the cookie sheet with my hands without rolling)
Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes. Watch that the edges don’t start to burn.
Cool and glaze with icing. Cut into rectangular squares (1 ½” x 2 ½”)
I usually trim the outside edges off before cutting into squares. (The cook gets to eat these)
By placing into a sealed container for a day before freezing it helps to blend the flavors.

Glaze:
Mix 1/3 cup icing sugar with 1 ½ tablespoons of corn starch. Sprinkle with
½ teaspoon of almond extract and a little lemon juice (or rum). Mix in one tablespoon of hot water and add a little more (if needed) until you have a thick smooth paste.