These spicy German cookies need a few days to ripen after baking or the spices taste too strong. The dough is very sticky, but the finished product is worth it.

INGREDIENTS | YIELDS 48 COOKIES

• 1¼ cups sugar
• ¾ cup honey
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 cups chocolate chips
• 1 cup almonds, chopped or slivered
• ½ cup candied citron or orange, chopped
• 2 eggs
• ¼ cup orange juice
• 2¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon cloves
• 2 teaspoons cardamom
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3 tablespoons orange juice
• 1½ cups confectioners’ sugar

1. Bring sugar, honey, and water to a rolling boil. Remove from heat; set aside to cool.

2. Stir honey mixture with chocolate chips, almonds, candied fruit, eggs, and orange juice.

3. Sift together flour, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, baking soda, and baking powder; add to honey mixture. Cover bowl tightly; refrigerate 3 days.

4. Preheat oven to 325°F. Line 15" × 10" pan with parchment. Spread cookie dough evenly in pan.

5. Bake 35–40 minutes. Cool.

6. Mix orange juice and confectioners’ sugar to make a thin frosting. Spread over tops of cookies. Store cookies in an airtight container.