Chocolate Lebkuchen

From "perfect endings"

• Ready In: 1 hr 10 mins
• Serves: 50

Ingredients

• 2 3⁄4 cups flour, sifted
• 2  teaspoons cinnamon
• 1  teaspoon clove
• 1  teaspoon cardamom seed, finely crushed
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1  teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1⁄4 cups sugar
• 3⁄4 cup honey
• 2  tablespoons water
• 2  cups  semisweet chocolate morsels
• 1  cup walnuts, chopped
• 1⁄2 cup  candied fruit, finely chopped
• 2  eggs, well beaten
• 1⁄4 cup  orange juice

Directions

1. Sift the flour, cinnamon, cloves, seeds, baking soda and powder together and set aside.
2. Bring sugar, honey and water to boil in saucepan over moderate heat.
3. Stir the chocolate, walnuts, fruit, eggs, and orange juice into honey mixture until blended.
4. Blend the flour mixture in gradually.
5. Store dough in tightly covered dish, at room temperature, for 3 days, to ripen.
6. Preheat oven to 325°F
7. Spread dough in greased 15" x 10" X 1" pan and bake at 325 F for 35 to 40 minutes.
8. Cool. Wrap in foil and store till ready to use. (This keeps very well for weeks and improves in flavor on storing).
9. When ready to use, unwrap, and sust with confectioners' sugar. Cut in 3" x 1" bars.