Holiday Lebkuchen

Holiday Lebkuchen

Requires 3 days ripening time
(Yield: 4 dozen cookies)

3/4 cup honey
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 Tablespoons water
1/4 cup orange juice
2 eggs, well beaten
1 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup mixed candied fruit
1 12-ounce package semi-sweet chocolate morsels
2 3/4 cups sifted flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon cardamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder

Combine honey, sugar and water in saucepan.  Place over medium heat and bring to a boil.  Remove from heat.  Cool.

Stir in orange juice, eggs, nuts, candied fruit and semi-sweet chocolate morsels.

Sift flour and measure.  Sift again with spice, baking soda and baking powder.  Stir into honey mixture.

Store dough in a tightly covered dish for 3 days at room temperature to ripen.

Turn into greased and floured 15- by 10- by 1-inch pan.  Bake at 325 degrees 35 to 40 minutes.
Cover with orange glaze while warm.  Cut into 3- by 1-inch bars.

Orange Glaze

1 cup sifted confectiners' sugar
2 Tablespoons orange juice
2 Tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Combine all ingredients.  Blend until smooth.

Glaze holiday lebkuchen cookies.