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Sheet Cakes, Cakes

Sheet Pan Lebkuchen

by Greta

Sheet pan Lebkuchen cut into squares with a white cinnamon glaze

4.9 (22)out of 5, 22 ratings

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Prep
20 min
Bake
20 min
Total
40 min
Makes
1 baking sheet
My mom has baked this Lebkuchen every Advent for as long as I can remember. It's super easy to make, and I have to say, I often prefer a simple sheet cake like this to even the prettiest layer cakes :)

Ingredients

Makes 1 baking sheet

For the batter:

  • 2 ¾ cups350 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.
  • 1 ½ cups300 ggranulated sugar
  • 1 cup100 gground hazelnutsFinely ground hazelnuts. In the US use hazelnut flour or hazelnut meal; in the UK, ground hazelnuts.
  • 2 tbspgingerbread spice1 packet = about 2 tbsp (15 g). A 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 tspground cloves
  • 1 tbsp plus ¾ tspcream of tartar baking powder1 packet = 1 tbsp plus ¾ tsp (15 g). A phosphate-free baking powder made with cream of tartar; one German packet is meant for about 500 g (4 cups) of flour. In the US and the UK use baking powder, the same amount; about 1 tbsp plus ¾ tsp per packet.
  • 1 cup250 mlmilk
  • 4large eggs
  • 1 stick plus 3 tbsp150 gunsalted butterGerman butter is unsalted and has about 82 percent fat. In the US use unsalted butter; European-style unsalted butter is closest. In the UK use unsalted butter.
  • 2 tbsphoneygenerous tablespoons

For the glaze:

  • powdered sugaras needed. Very finely ground sugar for icings and dusting. In the US this is powdered sugar (confectioners' sugar); in the UK, icing sugar.
  • ground cinnamona little
  • watera little

Method

  1. Mix all the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, ground hazelnuts, spices, baking powder).
  2. Add the milk and eggs and mix everything with a hand mixer or stand mixer.
  3. Melt the butter and honey in a saucepan and add them to the bowl with the other ingredients.
  4. Mix everything together thoroughly once more (the batter is fairly runny).
  5. Spread all of the batter on a large baking sheet (about 16 × 14 inches / 40 × 35 cm) lined with parchment paper. A US half sheet pan (18 × 13 inches) works too.
  6. Bake in the preheated oven at 400°F (200°C), conventional (top and bottom heat), for 20 to 30 minutes.
  7. For the glaze, stir 2 to 3 tbsp water with powdered sugar and a little cinnamon (1 to 2 tsp) into a thick glaze. Spread it over the cake while it is still hot or once it has cooled.

  8. Enjoy!