Lebkuchen (spice Bars)

Total Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon allspice, ground
• 1/4 teaspoon clove, ground
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/4 cups flour, unbleached, unsifted
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup almonds, ground
• 1 teaspoon lemon, rind of, grated
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup honey
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon rum
• 1 tablespoon water

Recipe

• 1 stir together the spices, salt flour, and baking powder.
• 2 stir in the almonds and lemon rind.
• 3 in a separate bowl beat the eggs and sugar until a ribbon is formed when the beater is removed.
• 4 stir in the honey and milk.
• 5 gradually stir in the flour mixture; beat until smooth.
• 6 spread the batter in an 11 x 17-inch jelly roll pan that is well greased and floured.
• 7 bake at 400 degrees f for 12 to 15 minutes, until the cake is done.
• 8 while the cake is still warm, turn it out onto a wire rack.
• 9 to make the almond glaze, mix the confectioners' sugar, almond extract, rum, and 1 to 2 t of water.
• 10 beat until glaze is smooth and of the right consistency.
• 11 add more water to thin if neccessary.
• 12 spread the warm cake with the almond glaze.
• 13 cut cake into 1 x 2 1/2-inch bars while still warm.
• 14 spice bars keep 6 to 8 weeks in a sealed container if not glazed.