Sue's Grandma Wirth's Lebkuchen [no Alcohol]

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup shortening (Crisco)
• 1 pint honey
• 1 pint dark molasses
• 1 pint sour cream
• 4 1/2 cups dark brown sugar
• 5 cups walnuts (black walnuts are best)
• candied fruit
• 2 lbs raisins, soaked in hot water and drained
• 5 eggs
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon clove
• 1 tablespoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 2 1/2-3 teaspoons salt
• 4 teaspoons baking soda
• 5 lbs flour (more or less)
• 1 whole almonds

Directions

1. 1

   Mix butter, shortening, honey, molasses, sour cream and brown sugar in saucepan over low heat. When blended, cool a little but while still somewhat warm, stir in coarsley chopped walnuts, candied fruit and eggs.

2. 2

   Stir 5 pounds of flour less 4 cups with the spices, salt and soda. Add this to fruit and nut mixture. This mixture will be very firm. Add more flour if needed. Mix this dough until you cannot possible add any more flour into the dough. When it is very stiff, cover and put in refrigerator overnight.

3. 3

   In the morning take small amounts of dough (keep rest in refrigerator) and roll out 1/4 inch thick and cut into oblong shape using a Spam Can for cookie cutter. Use as little flour as possible when rolling cookies. Place on greased cookie sheet, press a whole almond in middle to decorate and bake 8 to 10 minutes at 350-375 degrees. Do not overbake. They should be done in the middle, but still soft and chewy.

4. 4

   Her recipe said you could use hickory nuts or walnuts. Instead of the candied fruit mix, she used candied orange peel, citron and lemon peel. If you don't have a Spam Can cookie cutter roll the dough 1/2 inch thick and cut in oblongs that are 1 1/2 inch by 2 1/2 inch.

5. 5

   Sue C's.

6. 6

   Great Grandma's recipe.