St. Katharina von Bora Luther “Star of Wittenberg” Lebkuchen

Katharina von Bora Luther’s popularity as a saint is surely connected to her role as the wife of Martin Luther but also stems from her hard work and dedication to her many vocations, including Christian, mother, and keeper of the Luther home, finances, and estate. It was for these many responsibilities that her husband joked she was the “Star of Wittenberg,” up in the early hours of the morning in order to cheerfully get all of her work done.

However, this nickname of “Star of Wittenberg” offers a few other points of connection between Katie Luther and her December 20th date, too. Not only does it describe Luther’s affection for her, but it also connects to other “star” symbols referenced during the Advent season, the time during which her day falls.

During this time of the Church, references to stars allude to the coming and person of Christ. We see this exemplified in the star of Bethlehem, which led the way for the Wise Men. It is also a comforting symbol in the time of the dark winter, when light from the night sky serves as a beacon of hope. Finally, Jesus himself is called a star, often especially described in this way during the season of Christmas and Epiphany and confessed as such in some of our most popular Lutheran hymnody sung during these seasons such as “O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright” (LSB 395), “Arise and Shine in Splendor” (LSB 396), and “The Star Proclaims the King is Here” (LSB 399).

Katie Luther’s “star” nickname serves a bit of a dual purpose in this time of the Church. It encourages us to, like her, be pleasant in doing the duties of our vocations, channeling her own energy and dedication to staying on top of her many responsibilities in the family, Church, and home. However, it also helps serve as a reminder of these other “star” references during the Advent and Christmastide season, pointing to Christ.

Lebkuchen

The appearance of a “star” is a popular Advent symbol and seen in many traditions that are a part of this season. Stars often appear as part of the Christmas decor that dons our homes and churches, displayed on the top of Christmas trees, on ornaments, and in wreathes. In our baking delicacies, they appear as part of Christmastide Star Bread and Mincemeat Pies, just to name a few. 

Another traditional sweet that connects to this and Katie Luther is the ever-popular German Lebkuchen, or gingerbread; a rich and scrumptious cookie that is traditionally made in the deep of winter and associated with the Christmas season.

This treat was made in Germany as far back as 1296 when Franconian monks—who through the Salt Road had access to exotic spices such as cinnamon, clove, and anise—invented a cakey, honey-enriched dough that was free from butter, flour, and sugar. When the monks would be snowed in every winter, cut off from food resupply, Lubkuchen became a beloved form of sustenance and a bright spot on cold, winter days.

Eventually the cookies evolved, with the recipes changing to include the once hard-to-get ingredients and to reflect the German region in which they were made. Even today, the recipes are still different between areas of Germany that were part of the GDR during the Cold War and West Germany. Lebkuchen is popular in other areas of Eastern Europe as well, especially ones that share some history with Germany, where they tend to replicate the GDR recipe.

Across Europe Lebkuchen are often cut into simple shapes, including stars, as a further connection to this Christmas-related shape. They have been an ever-popular treat since their inception, surely baked by Katie Luther herself. If you bake cookies for this time of year, they are a baking custom that is surely not to be forgotten!

History

Ingredients

1 cup brown sugar

½ cup honey

⅔ cup milk

½ cup water

½ cup butter, cubed

3 ⅓ cup all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon,

½ teaspoon ginger

½ teaspoon cloves

½ teaspoon salt

¾ teaspoon baking soda

1 egg white

2 ½ tablespoons liquor (optional, select a flavorful brandy, rum, or vodka)

2 egg yolks

1 tablespoon water

Instructions

1. In a saucepan heat brown sugar, honey, milk, water and cubed butter on medium heat. Stir to combine until the butter is melted and the sugar dissolves, taking it off the heat as soon as it boils.
2. Add flour, spices, and salt, stirring with a wooden spoon or spatula until combined. Return saucepan to the stove. Continue to heat the mixture and stir while it thickens and starts to pull away from the sides of the saucepan.
3. Set saucepan aside in a cool place (outside if you live in a cold climate) until the dough is no longer hot so it won’t cook the egg white in the next step. But don’t chill so long that the dough gets too stiff to stir. Beat the egg white until stiff. When the dough as cooled, stir/knead the stiff egg white into the dough as well as the baking soda and liquor.
4. Prepare several sheets of parchment paper. Divide the dough into 4 portions. Place each dough portion on a piece of parchment. Place another parchment paper sheet on top and roll the dough out to a disc of about ¼ inch thickness.
5. Place the rolled out Lebkuchen dough discs in the freezer or fridge until thoroughly chilled through.
6. Preheat your oven to 350° F and prepare 2 baking sheets with more parchment paper.
7. Flour your work surface. Then take one chilled dough sheet at a time and, adding only as much flour as needed to keep it from sticking, roll to about ⅛-inch thickness.
8. Cut out your stars with a star cookie cutter and place on the cookie sheet. Bake one sheet at a time for about 15 minutes. The cookies are done when the tops are opaque and the bottoms slightly browned—be sure to not over bake.
9. In a small bowl whisk together the egg yolks and water. Pull the finished cookies from the oven, and immediately brush each cookie with a thin layer of the egg wash.