Lembas Bread from Lord of the Rings Recipe
Lembas Bread is a traditional Elvish shortbread from the Lord of the Rings universe. This recipe creates a fragrant, sweet and spiced bread with a tender crumb, perfect for a themed snack or a unique treat inspired by Tolkien’s lore. Made with warm spices, honey, and a hint of almond, it offers a delightful flavor and cozy texture, baked to a golden finish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 12 pieces 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Fantasy Inspired / Western
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1⁄2 teaspoon nutmeg
Wet Ingredients
- 1⁄2 cup butter, room temperature
- 1⁄3 cup brown sugar
- 2⁄3 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1⁄2 teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and promote even baking.
- Sift Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg until evenly mixed and aerated.
- Combine Butter and Sugar: Add the softened butter and brown sugar to the dry mixture. Using an electric mixer at low to medium speed, beat the mixture until it becomes crumbly and well blended.
- Add Wet Ingredients and Form Dough: Pour in the heavy whipping cream, honey, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Mix gently with a fork until a thick, cohesive dough forms.
- Roll and Cut Dough: Lightly flour your work surface and roll the dough out to about 1/2 inch thickness. Using a knife or dough cutter, cut the dough into 3-inch squares and place them spaced evenly on the prepared cookie sheet.
- Score the Dough: Carve two shallow diagonal lines across each square from corner to corner with a sharp knife, creating an “X” pattern on top of each piece to mimic traditional Lembas bread markings.
- Bake: Bake the cut dough in the preheated oven for about 12 minutes, or until the bread is set and takes on a golden brown color at the edges.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool completely on a rack before serving. Enjoy this legendary treat fresh or store for later.
Notes
- The dough can be a bit sticky; light flouring during rolling helps prevent sticking.
- Use room temperature butter for better mixing and crumbly texture.
- Ensure the lines scored on the top are shallow to avoid cutting through the bread entirely.
- Store lembas bread in an airtight container to keep it fresh for several days.
- This recipe yields a slightly sweet and spiced bread that pairs well with tea or as a snack on-the-go.
Keywords: Lembas bread, Lord of the Rings recipe, Elven bread, spiced shortbread, fantasy food, cinnamon nutmeg bread, honey bread, Tolkien inspired recipe
