Weckmann/Stutenkerl (German St Nicholas Day Traditional Recipe)
St Nicholas Day and Weckmänner bring up the best memories of growing up in Germany, as Saint Nicholas would hand out the brioche-like baked Weckmann pastries. They're a fun non-cookie Christmas baking project to make and decorate with kids.Weckmänner also go by Stutenkerle, Klausenmann, Pumann, Dambedei, Klaaskerl, Grittibänz, Teigmännli, depending on which region in Germany or other surrounding countries you're in!
- Prep time
- 30 min
- Cook time
- 18 min
- Yield
- 6 servings
- Difficulty
- HARD
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 500 grams all-purpose flour
- 250 milliliters milk (luke warm)
- 75 grams granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 75 grams butter (room temperature)
- 7 grams salt
- 14 grams active-dry yeast (2 pouches)
- 1 egg (size US large)
- ½ lemon (peel only)
- 1 egg yolk (size US large)
- 1 Tablespoon milk
- raisins
- pearl sugar
Instructions
- 1
Stir together half of the yeast used in this recipe (2 teaspoons or 7 grams) with barely warm milk and allow to sit for 5 minutes to bubble up or 'bloom.'
- 2
Gently stir in about 1 1/2 cups (180 grams) of the flour used in this recipe to create a starter dough. Cover and allow to rest in a warm spot in your house for 2 hours (the longer it's allowed to rise, the better the flavor development).
- 3
Now add in the remaining flour and the remaining yeast (2 teaspoons or 7 grams), egg, butter, sugar, vanilla, lemon peel and salt and and knead until you end up with a smooth dough that peels away from the sides of the bowl. You may need to add just a touch more flour.
- 4
Shape the Weckmänner by first rolling out the dough thinly and cutting them out OR shape them by hand. When cutting them out, I use either this cookie cutter or make a template from parchment paper (about 6 to 8 inches in size) to cut around.
- 5
Place them on a baking sheet prepped with parchment paper and preheat your oven to 350° Fahrenheit (180° Celsius).
- 6
Cover with a clean linen towel and allow to rise one final time until doubled in size (about 30 minutes).
- 7
Whisk together egg yolk and milk, then brush onto the Weckmänner.
- 8
Use raisins for eyes and buttons and pearl sugar for clothes or whatever your heart desires. This part of course is what kids have the most fun with.
- 9
Bake in batches on the middle rack for about 18 to 20 minutes OR bake at once in separate sheets and rotate them halfway through baking. If baking two trays at once, they may take just an extra minute or two. Enjoy right away.