German Recipes

Mandelspritzgebäck (German Christmas Almond Cookies) Ingredients 1 1/3 cups unsalted butter (softened) 1 1/4 cups sugar 1 large egg 1 large egg yolk 1 1/3 cups ground almonds (blanched)

3 drops bitter almond oil (see note) 4 cups all-purpose flour 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Grease baking trays.
   
3. Mix butter with sugar until creamy. Add egg and egg yolk and mix until foamy.
   
4. Add almonds and a few drops oil of bitter almonds.
   
5. Add flour (mixed with baking powder) little by little and mix. The dough should be elastic, but will not be smooth.
   
6. Fill in the dough into a cookie press with big star nozzle or better into a meat grinder with a big star nozzle.
   
7. Make / press dough strings of about 2 to 3-inches. Form dough strings into rings, "S", horseshoes or any other shapes you like and place on baking tray.
   
8. Bake for about 12 minutes. Cookies should still be light.
9. NOTE: Oil of bitter almonds: if you can't find it, use almond extract.
   
10. NOTE on cookie press: the dough is elastic but not smooth. So using a simple icing bag could be difficult. I use a meat grinder with a special cookie star nozzle. You can use a suited cookie press.
    
11. NOTE on custom yield: I really can't give the correct custom yield. But the amount will make several baking trays. Baking time is given for one tray.
    

Brown Sugar Cookies Ingredients 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, firmly packed 2/3 cup shortening 2 eggs 2 tablespoons milk 1 tablespoon orange rind, grated 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground

1/2 teaspoon clove, ground 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 cups flour 1 cup raisins 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
   
2. In a medium mixing bowl, cream together sugar and shortening until light and fluffy.
   
3. Beat in eggs, milk and orange rind.
   
4. Stir together baking powder, spices, salt and flour; mix into sugar mixture.
   
5. Stir in raisins and nuts (optional).
   
6. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets.
   
7. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until done.
   
8. Remove from baking sheets to wire rack and cool.
   
9. Store in airtight tins.

German Chocolate Cake Ingredients 1/2 cup boiling water 4 ounces sweet cooking German chocolate 2 cups sugar 1 cup butter, softened 4 egg yolks 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 1/2 cups cake flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup buttermilk 4 egg whites, stiffly beaten

Coconut Pecan Frosting 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup margarine or butter 1 cup evaporated milk 1 teaspoon vanilla 3 egg yolks 1 1/3 cups flaked coconut 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
   
2. Grease 2 9-inch square pans or 3 8-inch round pans.
   
3. Line bottom of pans with wax paper.
   
4. Pour boiling water on chocolate, stirring until chocolate is melted; cool.
   
5. Mix sugar and butter in large mixing bowl until light and fluffy.
   
6. Beat in eggs yolk, one at a time. Beat in chocolate and vanilla on low speed.
   
7. Mix in flour, baking soda and salt alternately with buttermilk, beating after each addition until batter is smooth.
   
8. Fold in egg whites.
   
9. Divide batter among pans.
   
10. Bake square pans 40-45 minutes or round pans 35-40 minutes.
    
11. Check for doneness with toothpick in center.
    
12. Cool and top with Coconut-Pecan Frosting.
    
13. Coconut Pecan Frosting:.
    
14. Mix sugar, butter, milk, vanilla and egg yolks in saucepan.
    
15. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until thick, about 12 minutes.
    
16. Take off Heat.
    
17. Stir in coconut and pecans.
    
18. Beat until spreading consistency. Allow to cool & thicken before icing cake.

German Apple Cake Ingredients 2 eggs 3/4 cup vegetable oil 2 cups sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cups flour 2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 4 cups peeled chopped apples

Directions

1. In large bowl, beat eggs and oil until smooth.
   
2. Add next 6 ingredients and mix well.
   
3. Fold in apples.
   
4. Pour into greased 9 by 13 pan.
   
5. Bake at 350F degrees for 50-55 minutes.

Gooey Philadelphia German Butter Cake Ingredients 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup butter flavor shortening or butter 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 large egg 1 (1/4 ounce) packet active dry yeast 1/2 cup warm milk (105-115 degrees F) 2 1/4 cups flour 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Topping 1 cup unsalted butter 2/3 cup flour 2 cups superfine sugar (Must use Extra Fine!!) 2 extra-large eggs 4-5 tablespoons milk 1 teaspoon clear vanilla (optional)

Directions

1. Mix sugar, shortening, and salt in a bowl.
   
2. Add egg, and beat together for 1 minute.
   
3. Dissolve yeast in warm milk.
   
4. To egg/sugar mixture, add flour, then yeast mixture and vanilla, beating about 3 minutes.
   
5. Turn dough onto lightly floured board and knead 1 minute.
   
6. Place in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a towel and let stand in a warm place to rise 1 hour or until double.
   
7. Make Topping: Cream butter in a mixer.
   
8. Mix together flour and sugar; gradually beat into butter.
   
9. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
   
10. Add vanilla.
    
11. Gradually add just enough milk to bring mixture to an easy spreading consistency, being careful not to make it too runny.
    
12. When dough is doubled, punch it down and divide in two sections.
    
13. Roll or pat halves into bottom of two well-greased 8" square pans (or a 13x9 pan).
    
14. Crimp edges halfway up sides to hold topping. Prick dough with a fork to reduce bubbling.
    
15. Spread topping evenly over dough. Let stand 20 minutes.
    
16. Bake at 375F 30 minutes for 13x9 or 20 minutes for 8x8 or until top is just golden and crusty, but still gooey.
    
17. DO NOT OVERBAKE!

German Plum Cake Ingredients 1/4 lb butter 1/3 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1 egg 1 tablespoon sour cream 1 pinch salt (only if you use unsalted butter) 1 teaspoon lemon, rind of 1 3/4 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 2 cups plums, pitted and sliced into thin wedges

For the topping 6 tablespoons butter 3/4 cup flour 1/3 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions

1. In a large bowl, cream the butter, add the sugar, vanilla, egg, lemon peel, sour cream and salt (if desired).
   
2. Mix the flour and baking powder and add that into the mixture.
   
3. Grease the base of a round baking pan and spread the dough over the pan.
   
4. Liberally spread plums over the dough.
   
5. To make the optional topping, cream the butter, add flour, sugar and cinnamon.
   
6. Sprinkle over the plums and bake for 30-45 minutes in the middle rack at 375 F.
   
7. Be careful not to let the bottom burn!
   
8. Serve with lots of freshly-made whipped cream.
   
9. If you like, you may also sprinkle rum or cinnamon over the fruit before baking.