Weckmänner (might be translated with 'Doughmen') are a German sweet bread that is popular around Christmas time. There are many more names and different traditions. In my family we have them on the 5th December, the Eve of St. Nikolaus, though you can usually find them throughout November and December.
Traditionally, they were a supplement for the altar bread, given to those who could not attend the Eucharist. Later they developed to be eaten on more specific occasions, as on St. Martin's Day (11th November) or the Eve of St. Nikolaus. Their form is meant to represent St. Nikolaus, the bishop of Myra, and often the Doughman comes with a clay-pipe that might once have represented the bishop's staff.
Traditionally, they were a supplement for the altar bread, given to those who could not attend the Eucharist. Later they developed to be eaten on more specific occasions, as on St. Martin's Day (11th November) or the Eve of St. Nikolaus. Their form is meant to represent St. Nikolaus, the bishop of Myra, and often the Doughman comes with a clay-pipe that might once have represented the bishop's staff.
Ingredients:
- 600 g flour
40 g fresh yeast
250 ml lukewarm milk
100 g butter
2 eggs
60 g sugar
1 pinch of salt
1 packet of vanilla sugar
raisins for eyes and buttons
eggyolk
How to make them:
Sieve the flour into a bowl, break the yeast into small pieces, add them to the flour and mix them with the lukewarm milk.
Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen-towel and let the dough rise for about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile melt the butter, add eggs, sugar and vanilla sugar and knead that mixture into the dough. You might have to add more flour.
Let the dough rise for another 15 minutes.
Now knead the dough ona floured surface and roll it so its about 1 cm thick. Form or cut 6 men and put the raisins as eyes and buttons. Then brush them with the eggyolk and let them rise for another 15 minutes while preheating the oven to 220°C.
Bake the men for 10-15 minutes, they should be golden brown.
How to eat them:
There are several variations of how to eat your Doughman, all of them very yummy. The first question however is, what part to start with, do you cut off the head first, or start with the arms or legs. The Doughmen are best when cut lengthwise ad then spread with butter and possibly jam or Nutella.
We usually have hot chocolate with them and they are also very good dipped and soaked with the drink.
Sieve the flour into a bowl, break the yeast into small pieces, add them to the flour and mix them with the lukewarm milk.
Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen-towel and let the dough rise for about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile melt the butter, add eggs, sugar and vanilla sugar and knead that mixture into the dough. You might have to add more flour.
Let the dough rise for another 15 minutes.
Now knead the dough ona floured surface and roll it so its about 1 cm thick. Form or cut 6 men and put the raisins as eyes and buttons. Then brush them with the eggyolk and let them rise for another 15 minutes while preheating the oven to 220°C.
Bake the men for 10-15 minutes, they should be golden brown.
How to eat them:
There are several variations of how to eat your Doughman, all of them very yummy. The first question however is, what part to start with, do you cut off the head first, or start with the arms or legs. The Doughmen are best when cut lengthwise ad then spread with butter and possibly jam or Nutella.
We usually have hot chocolate with them and they are also very good dipped and soaked with the drink.
