Vegan Lebkuchen (German Spiced Cookies)

Vegan lebkuchen, or traditional German spice cookies, are a common treat around Christmas. A bit like gingerbread, this lightened up version includes hazelnut flour, coconut sugar, and olive oil. These chocolate drizzled cookies are perfect for the holidays.

These cookies are a healthier, vegan twist on traditional German cookies, lebkuchen or pfefferkuchen, which are sort of like gingerbread. They’re soft spiced cookies that are made at Christmas time. If you’ve been to Germany and saw those awful heart cookies that are sold at markets decorated with colourful icing, that’s a harder type of lebkuchen (and they’re disgusting, don’t buy them).

I think the main difference between these vegan lebkuchen and gingerbread is that these don’t include molasses, which I hate, so that might be their best quality. This version is dairy and egg free, much lower in sugar and fat than normal, and perfectly spicy. They have a nice crispy edge and chewy centre, and even though I think they’re just right with a little chocolate, it’s not necessary if you don’t want to add it.

If you’re not following a plant based diet, you can use an egg in these cookies in place of the arrowroot powder. If you don’t have arrowroot, don’t just leave it out! It adds chewiness to the cookies, which the egg will also do if you use it.

We’re dog/house sitting over the holidays for friends who are in New Zealand in a house in the forest. I love it. First, dogs are the best, and it’s so beautiful and quiet here. It’s not that our house isn’t nice, but this place is way nicer, ha. And there’s a dog here. Plus, the owners have piles of pottery, other great props, and there are windows everywhere, so it’s easy to take pictures here. 

This post is the first of several cookie recipes I’ll be sharing this week. I know I’ve been a little less present lately – I’ve been working a lot, but wanted to get some holiday themed posts out there before the holidays are over and there are no cookies! Graham, who is a total cookie monster, is thrilled. His gran bakes loads of cookies every Christmas and he’s been comparing mine to hers (one fit the bill, apparently, but I’ll be sharing that recipe a little later). 

Keep checking back throughout the week for more cookie recipes, and maybe a festive drink before Christmas!

Let’s connect! If you liked this recipe, make sure to leave a comment below, I love hearing from you! Tag me on instagram @occasionallyeggs and #occasionallyeggs so I can see what you’re making, and stay in touch via facebook, pinterest, and bloglovin.

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Vegan Lebkuchen

Vegan lebkuchen, or traditional German spice cookies, are a common treat around Christmas. A bit like gingerbread, this lightened up version includes hazelnut flour, coconut sugar, and olive oil. These chocolate drizzled cookies are perfect for the holidays.

Course Dessert

Cuisine Vegan

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Servings 12 cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup light spelt flour
• 1/2 cup hazelnut meal
• 1/2 cup coconut sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon arrowroot powder*
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg**
• 1 cardamom pod crushed
• Pinch salt
• 1/4 cup olive oil***
• 2 tablespoons oat or nut milk
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
• 50 grams dark chocolate melted, for topping

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 180C / 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, hazelnut meal, sugar, arrowroot, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and salt.
3. In a smaller bowl, whisk the oil, milk, and maple syrup. Whisk in the egg as well if you're substituting it for the arrowroot.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture and stir until everything is combined. Take about two tablespoons of dough and and use your hands roll it into a ball, repeating until the dough is used. Place them 6 cm (2 inches) apart on the prepared baking sheet.
5. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until golden. Let the cookies cool on the pan for ten minutes before removing to cool completely on a rack.
6. Once the cookies are cool, use a spoon dipped in the melted chocolate to drizzle lines over them. Cool them in the fridge after adding the chocolate before packing them up in a sealed container. The cookies will keep for about 5 days on the counter, and freeze well.

Notes

* As mentioned above, an egg can be substituted for the arrowroot powder with virtually identical results. Just mix it in with the other liquid ingredients and leave out the arrowroot.
** If you use pre-ground nutmeg and cardamom, use 1/2 teaspoon and 1/4 teaspoon respectively.
*** Other oils can be used in place of olive oil. I've used grapeseed and melted coconut oil with good results. Using coconut oil will result in a denser cookie once it cools.