Lebkuchen
Spiced honey gingerbread studded with nuts, the edible signature of German Christmas markets — Nuremberg's Nürnberger Lebkuchen carries a protected origin.
Region
Franconia / Bavaria — especially Nuremberg (Nürnberger Lebkuchen)
Spice Level
(0/5)
Diet
Vegetarian
Where to Try
Christmas markets nationwide from late November; Nuremberg year-round for Nürnberger Lebkuchen.
Lebkuchen is Germany's spiced, honey-sweetened gingerbread, baked with nuts and warm spices and inseparable from the country's Christmas markets. The most famous form is Nürnberger Lebkuchen from Nuremberg — a soft, nut-rich round often baked on a thin wafer (Oblaten) and protected by origin designation since 1996. Sold in decorated tins as gifts and hung as spiced heart-shaped keepsakes at fairs, Lebkuchen is the edible symbol of the German Advent season. Recipes are usually meat-free, though a few traditional versions include lard.