Lebkuchen (German Spice Cookies)

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1. 1Step 1: In a glass bowl, mix the honey and sugar and heat in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir together well until sugar dissolves (heat another 15-30 seconds if needed).
2. 2Step 2: Immediately add the butter and lemon zest and stir until the butter melts.
3. 3Step 3: Stir in the baking powder, soda, salt and spices and egg.
4. 4Step 4: Add the flour and ground almonds. Mix until you have a soft and slightly sticky dough, adding a little lemon juice as needed. Be careful not to add too much because you will be rolling the dough, just enough to where it's not dry.
5. 5Step 5: Spray your hands with cooking spray and gather the dough into a ball.
6. 6Step 6: Cover the mixing bowl with a towel and leave to rest for at least an hour or even overnight at room temperature.
7. 7Step 7: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile prepare the glaze.
8. 8Step 8: Mix together all the glaze ingredients in a small bowl until you have a thin glaze.
9. 9Step 9: Divide the dough into thirds. Roll the dough on a silicone baking mat to 3/4 of an inch thickness to right under 1 inch.
10. 10Step 10: Cut out circles using a cookie cutter.
11. 11Step 11: Space the cookies out on the silicone mat and bake for 12 minutes.
12. 12Step 12: Repeat with remaining dough, gathering up any scraps and rolling out again and bake in batches.
13. 13Step 13: Transfer the cookies carefully to a wire rack and brush with the glaze while they are still a little warm using a pastry brush.
14. 14Step 14: Allow the glaze to dry and add a second layer (if desired). Check the recipe notes if you want to cover or dip the Lebkuchen in chocolate.