Martinmas Photos and Weckmann Recipe

So I finally added photos to my last post on Martinmas here.

Here is the recipe for Weckmann.

Formed out of sweet yeast dough, this man goes by many names in Germany— Weckmann, Nikolaus, Stutenkerl, among others—and is a popular treat for either St. Martin’s Day on November 11, or St. Nicholas Day on December 6. For the traditional Weckmann, the dough is shaped by hand into the form of a man, and raisins and/or nuts are used for eyes and buttons. In Germany, a clay pipe is often added, but this detail is hard to find in the United States.

Males: 10

Ingredients:

• 1 cup milk
• 1/3 cup sweet butter
• 3 tablespoon (1/6 cup) shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons real vanilla extract
• 1 grated lemon peel
• 1 packet rapid yeast (1/4 ounce)
• 3 tablespoon warm water
• 4 whole eggs
• 6 2/3 cups flour

1 egg beaten with 2 tablespoons water for glazing

Preparation:

1. Mix yeast with warm water and 1 tablespoon of sugar. 
2. Combine milk, butter, shortening, and sugar, in a saucepan and heat gently then set aside to cool. 
3. Place flour in a large bowl, make a well in the middle of the flour and pour yeast mixture into the well, cover and let rise for 20 minutes. 
4. Add milk mixture to flour and mix all the ingredients together. 
5. Knead into a ball, dust with flour and let rise for 45 minutes.
6. Roll dough and divide into 10 pieces to form into men. 
7. Place the men on a large baking sheet covered with parchment or wax paper, making sure to leave enough room between each shape.
8.  Let rise for a further 20 to 45 minutes
9. Brush with egg and water mixture, decorate with raisins and dried cranberries for the eyes and buttons

Bake at 325 to 350 degrees F for 10-15 minutes.

Enjoy!