Weckmann/Stutenkerl (German St Nicholas Day Traditional Recipe)

Method9 steps

1. 1

   Step 1: Stir 7 g of the 14 g total yeast into the 250 ml barely warm dough milk. Stand 5 minutes until bubbly.

   Activate starter yeast · 5 minUses 250 milliliters milk (luke warm) · 7 g of 14 g total active dry yeast

2. 2

   Step 2: Gently stir 180 g of the 500 g total flour into the yeast-milk mixture to make a starter. Cover and rest in a warm spot for 2 hours.

   Rest yeast starter · 120 minUses bubbly starter yeast-milk mixture · 180 g of 500 g total flour

3. 3

   Step 3: Add the remaining 320 g flour and 7 g yeast, one dough egg, 75 g butter, 75 g sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, zest of ½ lemon and 7 g salt to the starter. Knead until smooth and pulling away from the bowl, using only a little separately supplied extra flour if needed.

   Uses risen flour-milk-yeast starter · Remaining 320 g of 500 g total flour · Remaining 7 g of 14 g total yeast · 75 grams granulated sugar · 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract · 75 grams butter (room temperature) · 7 grams salt · 1 egg (size US large)

4. 4

   Step 4: Make 6 figures by hand OR roll the dough and cut around 6–8-inch /15–20 cm templates or an appropriate cutter, using a little of the separately supplied extra flour only if needed for handling. Reroll trimmings so the batch is used.

   Uses finished sweet yeast dough · Extra flour only as needed for rolling or shaping

5. 5

   Step 5: Place the figures on parchment-lined baking sheets with room to rise. Preheat to 180°C /350°F before baking.

   Uses six shaped raw Weckmann figures

6. 6

   Step 6: Cover with a clean towel and proof about 30 minutes until doubled.

   Proof shaped Weckmänner until doubled · 30 minUses arranged shaped Weckmann figures

7. 7

   Step 7: Whisk the separate one wash egg yolk (1 large) with 1 tbsp wash milk and brush over the proofed figures.

   Uses proofed Weckmann figures · 1 large egg yolk for wash · 1 Tablespoon milk

8. 8

   Step 8: Decorate with raisins for eyes/buttons and pearl sugar as desired.

   Uses egg-washed raw figures · raisins · pearl sugar

9. 9

   Step 9: Bake on the middle rack 18–20 minutes until golden and baked through. If baking two trays together, rotate halfway and allow another minute or two if needed. Cool briefly before serving.

   Bake Weckmänner until golden · 18 minUses decorated proofed raw Weckmänner