Hazelnut Chocolate Lebkuchen Squares {#dairyfree #recipe #cookie #gingerbread}

How was your weekend?  Ours was quite lovely filled with lots of baking, cooking and we may have never left the house on Saturday.  Heck, I may just come right out and admit that we actually never made it out of PJs on Saturday…ahm yes, maybe this is not something that should be admitted but it is true.  The girls and I spent the entire Saturday in our PJs baking, cooking, cutting stars for the window plus we watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.  On Sunday we actually made it out of the door; never moved the car  (and yes, I am proud of that) and took a nice Solstice walk to Por Que No?and New Seasons Market.

One of the treats my assistant (MiaRose) and I made yesterday were these delicious little Hazelnut Chocolate Lebkuchen Squares.  They are delicious, maybe not pretty but super delicious...

Hazelnut Chocolate Lebkuchen Squares

• 1-3/4 stick Earth Balance (7/8 C) - (or your favorite vegan "butter")
• 1-2/3 C powdered sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 Tb rum
• 3 oz dark chocolate
• 3 oz. shelled hazelnuts
• 2 C flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• pinch salt
• 1 Tb Lebkuchen spice mix
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

For glaze

• 3/4 C powdered sugar
• 3 Tb OJ
• Sprinkles

*** Preheat oven to 350 F - prepare a 8"x11" baking dish***

1. Cream Earth Balance together with powdered sugar until well combined
2. Add eggs, and rum and beat until everything comes together
3. In the meantime grind the chocolate and the hazelnuts
4. Add chocolate/hazelnut meal to the eggs/margarine mixtures and mix in well
5. In a separate bowl combine flour with baking powder, salt, and spices. Slowly add - 1/2 C at a time - the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.  Do not over mix.
6. Pour dough into the prepared baking dish, smoothing out the top with a spatula.  Bake in preheated oven for about 35 - 40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
7. Remove from oven and let it cool off.  Place Lebkuchen on a icing (cooling) rack
8. In a small bowl combine powdered sugar with OJ until it turns into a smooth paste.  Pour the glaze over the Lebkuchen and spread it with a baking brush.  Top with sprinkles.  Let glaze dry.
9. Once glaze is dry cut Lebkuchen into squares and place in cookie tin.

Enjoy!