Grandma's Chocolate Lebkuchen Recipe

Just mixed up a batch of this yesterday.

Christmas here just wouldn't be Christmas without Grandma's Chocolate Lebkuchen! . . . never had Lebkuchen before? It's kind of like an orangy, spicy, really chewy brownie.
It takes a bit of patience to make it as you start it one day and finish three days later, but SO worth trying!!! Yum!

1 1/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup honey
3 Tbsp. water
2 cups chocolate chips
2 eggs, well beaten
1/4 cup orange juice concentrate
2 3/4 cup sifted white flour
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder

Combine sugar, honey and water in a large saucepan. Bring to boil and dissolve sugar thoroughly. Remove from heat. Add chocolate chips, stirring until melted. Let cool until pan is no longer warm. (It is SO important that the mixture is cool at this point. When you add the eggs, if it is too warm, the eggs will cook and curdle and the lebkuchen will be ruined) Add orange juice concentrate and beaten eggs. Sift flour, spices, baking powder and soda. Add to chocolate mixture. Combine well. Store in a tightly closed container at room temperature for 3 days.
Preheat oven to 325 F. Spread lebkuchen into a lightly oiled 9"x13" pan. Bake 35-40 mins. Let cool completely and frost with a mixture of powdered sugar and lemon juice. Cut into 1 1/2 inch squares. Store in a tightly covered container. May be refrigerated. After 24 hours, the flavors will have mellowed.

*my grandma adds candied fruits to this . . . my kids prefer it without . . . this is heavenly with 1 1/2 cups finely chopped dried apricots and dried cherries!