Honey Cakes or Lebkuchen from The Christmas Cook: Three Centuries of American Yuletide Sweets by Wil

Ingredients

• ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped citron
• 4 cups ground almonds (9 ounces)
• 2½ tablespoons baking soda
• 2 cups plus 3 tablespoons unsulfured molasses
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon ground cardamom
• 8¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups plus 3 tablespoons honey
• 4 tablespoons brandy
• 1 tablespoon ground cloves