“Stutenkerl” – a traditional German Saint Nicholas pastry

November 27th, 2018 | bread & pastries

How many times did I put a pastry man – a “Stutenkerl” – into my children’s Santa Claus’ boots. And how many times did one of them land in our ready-made boots for St. Nicholas Day in my own childhood. But so far I had never baked such a pastry man myself, although it’s really easy. And the result is just fun!

Admittedly, so far I have always bought the “Stutenkerle” or “Weckmänner”, as they are called in Germany, at the bakery. There they lay in the display, one like the other, all equipped with clay pipes and raisin eyes and raisin buttons, tanned and appetizing. During our visit to Speyer, I found a large, really well-stocked household goods store. They sold cookie cutters for the pastry man and the obligatory pipes.

The result was quite good. Six guys – and everyone a little bit different: the one a little bit thicker, the other thinner, one more athletic, the other a bit chubby… A funny family of pastry men.

This is the recipe:

"Stutenkerl" (pastry man)

(gives 6 pieces and a few stars…)

(Attention: use the ingredients at room temperature – refrigerate dough for 1 hour – preheat oven to 200° C)

80 ml of milk

70 ml of oil (eg rapeseed oil)

200 g of sugar

250 g curd

mark of 2 vanilla pods

1 pinch of salt

mix together, if possible until the sugar has dissolved

475 g of flour

1 ½ packet of baking soda

1 pinch of cardamom, ground (or seeds of 5-6 capsules, finely ground)

½ ts cinnamon

add and knead with the dough hook to a smooth dough, shape into a ball, wrap in foil, let rest in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour

roll out the dough on a baking mat or baking paper 5 mm thick, then cut out, place on a baking tray lined out with baking paper

1 egg yolk

2 TS of milk

mix, brush on the dough pieces

2 TS currants

clay pipes

lay eyes, mouth and buttons out of the currants, put on the clay pipe and lightly bend the arm over it

use the rest of the dough to shape stars, hearts or other cookies

bake at 200° C for about 15 minutes until nicely golden-brown

allow to cool on the wire rack

And this is how the wife of the captain does it

Stutenkerle are a nice souvenir in the pre-Christmas season. I wrap it with transparent gift wrap and a nice red bow around the neck. This makes children’s hearts beat faster and the adults are happy too!

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Joe m Hatley says:

November 19th, 2021 at 1:06

Where can I purchase this kit of the cookie cutter and pipe in the USA? Thank you.

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1. Bettina Wiebe says:
  
  December 20th, 2021 at 17:43
  
  Well, I can only recommend to buy it online.

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