Weckmännchen = little sweet bread men, usually given to kids and available in bakeries at the beginning of November. On the 11.11 (btw, also the start of carneval, the 5th season in Cologne), children walk around the neighbourhoods with small lanterns, singing and receiving candy in return, all to celebrate St. Martin. Weckmännchen would always be shared out at school or at the big bonfire at the end of this singing and lantern event. This celebration is not unique to Germany, but Weckmännchen is certainly a very German name for this sweet bread treat.
Ingredients (~8 Weckmännchen)
475g Flour
25g Baking Powder
85ml Sunflower Oil
80ml Milk
1 Egg Yolk
250g lowfat Quark (a.k.a Magerquark)
1/4 tsp Vanilla Extract
100g Cane Sugar
Pinch of Salt
Egg wash (1 egg yolk + 2 tbsp milk)
Handful of Cranberries or Raisins
Method:
Preheat the oven to 180°C.
In a large bowl, mix the flour and baking powder. Using the dough hook of a handmixer, mix in the egg yolk, milk, quark, oil, vanilla extract, sugar and a pinch of salt. Mix until all ingredients are well combined.
Sprinkle flour onto the work surface and split the dough into 8 equally sized pieces. Using a knife, cut each piece of dough into the shape of a little man (or heart, dog, whatever you want your 'Weckmännchen' to look like). Lay the Weckmännchen onto a baking try lined with baking sheet and brush with egg wash. Add the cranberries as eyes and buttons, and bake the Weckmännchen for about 20 minutes, until golden. Best enjoyed with a thick layer of butter and homemade jam.
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