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Sheet Cakes, Pastries and Cookies, Cakes

Lebkuchen Brownies with Speculoos Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

by Rosalie

Lebkuchen brownie squares with chocolate cream cheese frosting and chopped speculoos cookies

4.8 (39)out of 5, 39 ratings

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Prep
25 min
Bake
20 min
Total
45 min
Makes
24 pieces
Two world-famous classics with a new twist. The flavor of Lebkuchen with a hint of chocolate and orange, all in one super moist cake with a deliciously creamy frosting.

Ingredients

Makes 24 pieces

For the batter:

  • 3large eggs
  • 1 cup200 ggranulated sugar
  • 1 pinchsalt
  • 1 tspground cinnamon
  • 1 tspgingerbread spiceA German spice blend of cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, cardamom, coriander, anise and ginger. In the US use pumpkin pie spice with a pinch each of ground cloves, cardamom and anise; in the UK, mixed spice with a pinch each of ground cardamom, coriander and anise.
  • 1 tspgrated orange zest
  • ½ cup plus 1 tbsp120 goilneutral-tasting, for example sunflower or canola oil (UK: rapeseed oil)
  • ¼ cup20 gunsweetened cocoa powderPure unsweetened cocoa powder for baking. In the US use unsweetened cocoa powder (not hot cocoa mix); in the UK, cocoa powder (not drinking chocolate).
  • 1 ¼ cups150 gall-purpose flourIn German recipes plain flour means soft wheat flour Type 405 unless stated otherwise. In the US use all-purpose flour; in the UK, plain flour.
  • 3 tspbaking powderGerman baking powder is sold in 15 g packets, each meant for about 500 g (4 cups) of flour. In the US and the UK use baking powder, 1 tbsp plus ¾ tsp per 15 g packet.
  • 3 ½ tbsp50 gmilk, mulled wine or juice of your choice
  • 2 ¾ oz80 gdark chocolateDark chocolate with roughly 50 to 70 percent cocoa. In the US use bittersweet or semisweet chocolate; in the UK, dark chocolate (50 to 70 percent).

For soaking:

  • ⅓ cup80 gapple juice

For the frosting:

  • 1 oz30 gdark chocolate
  • 1 ¾ oz50 gwhite chocolate
  • ⅓ cup80 gcream cheeseA soft, full-fat fresh cheese. In the US use full-fat cream cheese; in the UK, full-fat soft cheese.
  • ½ tspgrated orange zest
  • 1 oz30 gspeculoos cookiesThin, crisp spiced shortbread cookies. In the US use speculoos cookies such as Biscoff; in the UK, speculoos biscuits such as Biscoff.

For decorating:

  • ¾ oz20 gspeculoos cookies

Method

For the batter:

  1. Beat the eggs, sugar, salt, cinnamon, gingerbread spice and orange zest until slightly fluffy.

  2. Stir in the oil.

  3. Sift in the unsweetened cocoa powder, flour and baking powder and mix them in.

  4. Slowly stir in the milk (or mulled wine or juice).

  5. Coarsely chop the chocolate and mix it in.

  6. Spread the batter on a large baking sheet (about 16 × 14 inches / 40 × 35 cm; a US half sheet pan, 18 × 13 inches, works too) and bake in the preheated oven.

  7. Baking time: 20 to 25 minutes. Oven temperature: 350°F (180°C), convection (fan).

  8. Once the cake has cooled, soak it with the apple juice.

For the frosting:

  1. Coarsely chop both kinds of chocolate and melt them.

  2. Slowly stir in the cream cheese and orange zest.

  3. Coarsely chop the speculoos cookies and stir them in.

  4. Spread the frosting evenly over the cake.

For decorating:

  1. Coarsely chop the speculoos cookies and sprinkle them over the cake.
  2. Finally, just cut it into about 24 pieces and enjoy.