Grittibanz: Breadpeople for St. Nicholas Day!

Yeast Dough “Hebel”

5 packets of yeast

1 and ½ cups of lukewarm water

2 cups of flour

Soften yeast in water and add flour. Beat it well to form dough. Place the bowl inside another bowl filled with warm water and let it rise.

Bread Dough

3 Eggs at room temperature

3 Sticks of butter (melted)

3 Tsp Salt

10 Tsp Sugar

7 and a ½ cups of flour

1 and a ¼ cups Milk (slightly warmed)

Put flour in the bowl and make a well in the center. Place the yeast dough (Hebel) and all the other ingredients in the well (butter last). Knead and work the dough hard, beat it till it is firm and elastic. Let the dough rise in a warm place until it is double the size. Then beat the dough down again. Now it is ready to be shaped.

Making the bread people

Rub hands in flour and take a piece of dough. Shape it into an oblong oval.

Mark the head by making an indentation on each side. For the arms and legs make respective cuts on both sides and in the middle of the oval. Lightly roll the arms and legs between hands and give them the desired shape. Make eyes with raisins or currants.

Use candied fruit or citron to make the face, buttons, clothes, etc.

Baking

Lay the decorated figures on parchment paper on baking sheets.

Let them rise for about 15 minutes.

Glaze them with a thick layer of egg yolk.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 45 minutes, depending on the size.

En gutte! (Enjoy!)