German Flourless Christmas Cookies (Elisenlebkuchen)

Step 1

Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).

Step 2

Grind almonds and hazelnuts until they get not-so-powdery.

Step 3

In a medium to large bowl, mix and combine eggs and powdered sugar.

Step 4

Add lemon zest, mace, clove, allspice and salt. Mix to combine.

Step 5

Add ground nuts and candied peels. Mix until thoroughly combined.

Step 6

Spoon some of the cookie mixture on top of a muffin paper, about ½ inch thick. You can set the size of the cookies as you prefer, but this recipe makes about 12 medium-sized cookies.

Step 7

Place the cookies (and muffin papers) on a baking tray and in the oven for 18 to 20 minutes.

Step 8

While the cookies are in the oven, prepare the sugar and chocolate glaze.

Step 9

For sugar glaze, mix powdered sugar and hot water.

Step 10

For chocolate glaze, melt and mix chocolate and butter. You can do this in a double boiler or in the microwave.

Step 11

Once the cookies are out of the oven, let them cool for a few minutes.

Step 12

While the cookies are still warm, cover some of them with sugar glaze, and the remaining ones with chocolate glaze.

Step 13

Set glazed cookies aside for the glaze to harden (a bit).

Step 14

Serve.