Recipe Overview 🍽️
The Christmas Spice Cake is a traditional holiday treat, particularly popular in Germany, where it is often made during Advent. This aromatic cake, flavored with warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cloves, evokes the comforting tastes of Christmas. It is often served with tea or coffee and can be decorated with dried fruits or a festive glaze.
| Prep Time | Total | Servings |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Min | 1 Hr 30 Min | 8 to 10 people |
History of the Recipe ✍️
The Christmas Spice Cake (or “Lebkuchen” in German) has a long tradition in Germany, where it is often associated with Christmas markets. This spiced cake is an integral part of festive cuisine in Germany, especially during the Christmas season, and is prepared in many regional variations. The spices used, such as cinnamon and ginger, also symbolize warmth and comfort during the winter months.
Ingredients 🛒
listed in the order of use in the procedure:
- 250 g flour
- 200 g brown sugar
- 100 g melted butter
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 pinch of salt
- 200 g honey or molasses
- 100 g chopped nuts (optional)
- 50 g raisins (optional)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- Zest of one orange (optional)
Steps (How to Make ) 🥣
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and grease a 23 cm cake pan.
- Mix the dry ingredients: In a bowl, sift together the flour, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, baking powder, and salt.
- Prepare the wet mixture: In another bowl, beat the eggs with the brown sugar, honey (or molasses), melted butter, and vanilla extract. Add the orange zest if you want a citrusy touch.
- Combine the dry and wet ingredients: Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix until you get a smooth batter. Stir in the chopped nuts and raisins, if using.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool: Let the cake cool completely in the pan before unmolding
Chef Tips 👨🍳
- For extra flavor, you can add a bit of rum or orange liqueur to the batter.
- This cake is even better if made the day before, as the flavors will have time to develop.
- For a festive touch, you can decorate the cake with candied fruits or a powdered sugar glaze.
Possible Variations 🎭
- Spice and chocolate cake: Add pieces of dark chocolate to the batter for a contrast of flavors.
- Fruit cake: Incorporate candied fruits or apple chunks for a fruitier version.
- Iced cake: Top the cake with royal icing for a more festive look.
Bake Time 🔥
Baking the Christmas Spice Cake takes about 40 to 45 minutes at 180°C (350°F). This allows the aromatic spices to fully infuse the cake, creating a warm and inviting flavor profile. Keep an eye on the cake to ensure it doesn’t overbrown, and let it cool before dusting with powdered sugar for a beautiful, festive finish.
How to Store 🥡
How to Store the Christmas Spice Cake
Store this cake in an airtight container at room temperature. It keeps well for 3 to 4 days and can also be frozen for longer storage.
How Long Does the Christmas Spice Cake Last?
The cake lasts up to 4 days at room temperature. It can also be kept in the fridge for about 1 week or frozen for 1 to 2 months.
Food and Drink Pairings 🥂
The Christmas Spice Cake pairs perfectly with spiced black tea or hot chocolate. For an extra indulgence, you can serve it with whipped cream or a bit of vanilla ice cream.
Presentation Suggestion 🍽️
Serve this Christmas Spice Cake on a Christmas platter decorated with pine branches or dried fruits. For a festive touch, you can dust the cake with powdered sugar before serving.
Why It’s Healthy 💚
Although this cake is a bit rich in sugar and fat, it contains spices like cinnamon and ginger, which are known for their anti-inflammatory and digestive properties. Additionally, the nuts add healthy fats and protein.
Nutritional Value (per serving) .
- Calories: about 320 kcal
- Protein: 4 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fat: 12 g
- Fiber: 2 g