If you’re unfamiliar with lebkuchen or have never made a Leckerlee purchase before, here are some helpful tips as you consider whether to buy lebkuchen from us.
1. UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF LEBKUCHEN
First, it’s important to understand that lebkuchen is an umbrella term that covers a wide range of baked goods. We go into more detail here, but in a nutshell, Leckerlee’s lebkuchen falls in the category of Oblaten Lebkuchen. This category is distinguished by having a white, edible wafer (the wafers are known as Oblaten, hence the name) on the bottom.
At the highest level is Nuremberg lebkuchen, which must contain at least 25% nuts by weight. Most of the large companies producing Nuremberg lebkuchen, such as Lebkuchen Schmidt, Wicklein, and Haeberlein-Metzger, use only the bare minimum requirement of 25% nuts.
Nuremberg lebkuchen, also known as Elisenlebkuchen, is the only type of lebkuchen Leckerlee makes, and we boast a 40% nut content, which is on par with the finest artisanal lebkuchen bakeries in Nuremberg.
You may have come across colorfully frosted lebkuchen hearts (often found at Oktoberfest events), or lebkuchen that comes in the shape of stars, hearts, and/or pretzels, with or without a fruit filling. These types of lebkuchen fall into an entirely different category known as Braune (Brown) Lebkuchen. Generally wheat-based and without a wafer bottom, this type of lebkuchen -- due to its lack of nuts -- is less expensive than Oblaten Lebkuchen.
2. CONSIDER SMALL-BATCH VS. MASS-PRODUCED
Another factor to consider when buying lebkuchen is how the lebkuchen is made. Most lebkuchen products found at Amazon, World Market, and other retailers are mass-produced brands imported from Germany. These large manufacturers have machines that produce millions of lebkuchen per day. Their lebkuchen is shipped by the container load to the U.S., typically once during the holiday season, which means it’s likely to be several months old by the time you eat it.
We bake our lebkuchen fresh, in small batches throughout the entire holiday season, and we are sure that you will be able to taste the difference.
3. CHECK FOR INGREDIENT INTEGRITY
The FDA requires that ingredients on a product label be listed in order of predominance, and mass-produced lebkuchen almost always has sugar as its first ingredient (our first ingredient is almonds). It will also typically contain commercial ingredients such as persipan (a cheap substitute for marzipan that is made from ground apricot kernels), sorbitol, and other unnecessary additives (diglycerides, pyrophosphate, etc.). Be sure to check the ingredient label on any lebkuchen you’re considering buying.
At Leckerlee, we take great care to use high-quality ingredients in our lebkuchen. Our almonds come from California farms committed to sustainable almond production. We purchase our hazelnut flour from a family-owned business in Oregon that is third-party audited for sustainability and social responsibility. Our spices are cold-ground to best preserve their natural oils and potency.
We are adamant about not using preservatives or additives when possible, and we specially source several ingredients in order to meet this requirement. We also insist on using an aluminum-free baking powder. Our full ingredient list can be found here.
4. ASSESS TIN QUALITY
Tins are naturally secondary to the lebkuchen, but they are an important consideration nonetheless. Leckerlee’s tins are thoughtfully designed every year in an impressive range of illustration styles, making the holidays and gift-giving special each year. Our tins are heavyweight and carefully embossed, imparting a high level of finish that -- in a world rife with disposable plastics -- feels distinctly from another era. We intend them to be small objects of art that find a place in the home long after the lebkuchen inside is eaten.
5. COMPARE PRICES ON A LIKE-FOR-LIKE BASIS
When comparing prices of lebkuchen, all of the above factors -- nut content, production method, ingredients, and tins -- contribute to the quality and therefore value of the lebkuchen you're buying. In addition, when comparing any two products, one should equalize the respective net weights in order to make a fair comparison.
Here’s how Leckerlee lebkuchen stacks up in terms of price against some of the most popular alternatives available in the U.S.:
Leckerlee’s premium prices reflect the quality of our lebkuchen, which is made in small batches with high-quality ingredients. We tend to be more expensive than the imported mass-produced brands because we offer a superior product.
6. SEEK AN UNBIASED VIEW
We believe Leckerlee lebkuchen is hands-down the highest-quality lebkuchen that you can buy in the States, and we stand by our product with a 100% money-back guarantee.
But don’t just take our word for it. You can check out some of the accolades we’ve received over the years from Ruth Reichl, Saveur magazine, and more, as well as verified customer reviews collected over the past 7 years.
7. CONSIDER OUR BEST SELLERS
If you’ve decided to buy from us, you'll have a few options to choose from. May we suggest:
5 Assorted Lebkuchen: tried and true, this assortment contains both Classic and Chocolate lebkuchen in the traditional size found in Nuremberg. Also our most economical (per ounce) option. $28
1lb. Assorted Mini Lebkuchen: Same as the above, but in a more popular smaller portion size (about half the size of traditional lebkuchen). $30
If you fancy a tin, whether as a gift or for yourself, choose your favorite design here. Small tins with 9.5 ounces of mini lebkuchen are $25 and large tins with one pound of lebkuchen are $35.
8. SIGN UP FOR SPECIAL OFFERS
Last but not least, we offer special promotions & giveaways throughout the holiday season, some of which are exclusive to our email list. Be sure to sign up so that you don’t miss out on these limited-time offers.
First-time customer? Email us at info@leckerlee.com and we’d be happy to give you a special one-time discount code for your first purchase. We’d love to have you join the thousands of customers who order our freshly-baked lebkuchen year after year.
Ready to buy some Leckerlee lebkuchen?