lebkuchen

American  

[leyb-koo-kuhn, leyp-koo-khuhn] / ˈleɪb ku kən, ˈleɪpˌku xən /

noun

• lebkuchen
  plural

1. a hard, chewy or brittle Christmas cookie, usually flavored with honey and spices and containing nuts and citron.

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lebkuchen British  

/ ˈleɪbˌkuːkən /

noun

1. a biscuit, originating from Germany, usually containing honey, spices, etc

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• lebkuchen
  plural

Etymology

Origin of lebkuchen

An Americanism dating back to 1845–50; from German, from Middle High German lebekuoche; see loaf ¹, cake

Explanation

Lebkuchen is a German Christmas cookie that's similar to gingerbread. Traditionally, lebkuchen is made with honey and spices, shaped into a soft, round cookie, and glazed with sugar or chocolate. There are many variations on this basic style, including the addition of dried fruit and nuts, various shapes, and even a cake version. The origin of this German word is uncertain, though we know the kuchen part means "cake."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lebkuchen

The Christmas markets in Aachen are famous for lebkuchen.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 9, 2015

The messenger was Karl Heinz, a jolly red-nosed man who was spreading a gospel of German Christmases past and present: Eat lebkuchen.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 9, 2015

"Once considered delicacies found only at trips to Christmas markets, German-style cakes and bakes such as stollen and lebkuchen are now considered festive staples in British shopping baskets," says Marianne Robson, Waitrose's Christmas bakery buyer.

From BBC ● Dec. 21, 2014

“Lorissa, go play with your father,” I snapped after she asked me for the fifteenth time whether there was any lebkuchen left.

From Nature ● Jul. 22, 2014

He would make all the lebkuchen that was required, he said, but for the present he need not tell how it was made—possibly the Herr Brekel might not be satisfied with it, after all.

From A Romance Of Tompkins Square 1891 by W. T. (William Thomas) Smedley