Stollen, Lebkuchen, Gingerbread? Thea’s thinking about Christmas!
September 18, 2009An old German legend says that, for the pure of heart, all sorts of amazing things happen on Christmas eve – rivers turn to wine, animals speak to each other, mountains open to reveal their gems, trees bear fruit, bells can be heard ringing at the bottom of the sea. For the rest of us, there is the celebrating – and my, how the Germans love to celebrate, starting on December 6th (St. Nicholas Day) and continuing right through the season. Most of the tradtions involve food – children’s shoes are filled with treats, sleepyheads are given special currant buns (Thomasplitzchen), the feast of Christmas Eve (which has its own nickname, ‘Dickbauch’, which literally means ‘fat stomach’!) and then, of course, the main event – the feast of Christmas Day.
Thea is one of millions of Canadians of German heritage who were raised with many of these delicious traditions, and, as an avid baker, has spent years fine-tuning her own Christmas recipes. For years, those eaters lucky enough to taste her stollen, lebkuchen, and other treats have been ooh-ing and aah-ing -’you should open a bakery!’ – and Thea would always answer, yes, someday she will open a bakery, so everyone can try her delicious Old World recipes.
And now, finally, Thea’s delicious Christmas baking will be available to the public this Christmas. We are now accepting orders for Christmas for these delicious baked goods:
Stollen – A German Christmas tradition, this sweet braided rich egg bread is packed with raisins, currants, citrus and slivered almonds. (Thea’s recipe calls for a strip of marzipan in the centre as well.) Stollen seems to have started in Dresden (many recipes call it Dresdner Stollen), as far back as the Middle Ages, when the bishop required all bakers to bring longer loaves of Stollen to celebrate Christmas. Braided with 3 rolls of dough (to represent the Holy Trinity), it is also made without the candied fruit, delicious, tender, lemony — yum!
Delicious Lebkuchen
Lebkuchen (or Pfefferkuchen) is a somewhat soft gingerbread cookie with a glazed finish – the ingredients usually include honey, spices such as aniseed, coriander, cloves, ginger, cardamom, and allspice, nuts including almonds, hazelnuts, and walnuts, or candied citrus peels.
Gingerbread Houses – Gingerbread became popular in the 15th century, and became even more famous when the Brothers Grimm popularized their ‘Hansel and Gretel’ story. Nothing makes a more impressive centerpiece during the holidays than a homemade gingerbread house! Thea has built many, starting when she was a teenager and just HAD to build Martha Stewart’s recipe in ‘Christmas Baking’. (If you would like a custom gingerbread house for your holiday season, please contact us by the first week of December).
Just email thea@sweetthea.com if you would like some fantastic Christmas baking for your celebrations this year!
My family have been the lucky recipients of Thea’s Christmas Baking for many years. While my husband loves the stollen, I covet the Lebkuchen and have to hide ‘my share of the cookies’ before they are eaten by my daughter and husband.