Baking Weckmen. Sweet, Golden Brown & Full of History

🎂 6 + years ⏱️ 1 h 30 min 📍 At home ⭐ challenging

Do you know these little figures made from sweet yeast dough that are baked around Martin's Day? Golden brown on the outside, soft on the inside, with a small whistle in their mouth and two raisin eyes. These figures are more than just pastries; they tell a story. Long ago, there was a man named Saint Martin. He was brave and helpful. When he met a freezing beggar, he shared his warm coat. In memory of him, lanterns are made, songs are sung, and Weckmen are baked every year around Martin's Day. They are also called Stutenkerl or Martinsmann, depending on where you live. When you bake a Weckman today, you become part of this old tradition.

What you'll need

500g flour
1 cube of fresh yeast
250ml lukewarm milk
80g sugar
80g room temperature butter
1 egg
1 pinch of salt
1 packet of vanilla sugar
A bowl
A mixer with dough hooks
A rolling pin
A children's knife
Baking tray with baking paper
Raisins and almonds for decoration
A pastry brush

How it works

Warm 250ml of milk briefly in the microwave until lukewarm. Crumble 1 cube of yeast into it, add 2 tablespoons of sugar (from the 80g), and stir. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes until small bubbles form.
Put 500g of flour in a bowl, make a well, and pour the yeast milk into it. Add 80g of soft butter, 1 egg, 1 pinch of salt, the remaining sugar, and a packet of vanilla sugar. Knead for 10 minutes until the dough is smooth.
Shape the dough into a ball, place it in a bowl, and cover it with a clean cloth. Put it in a warm place. After about 1 hour, it will have doubled in size, thanks to the yeast!
Divide the dough into 6 pieces. Roll each piece into an oval shape. Carefully cut arms and legs with a knife. Shape the Weckmen and place them gently on the tray. Let them rest there for another 30 minutes so they can rise again.
Press raisins or almonds into the dough for eyes and buttons. Mix 1 egg yolk + 1 tablespoon of milk and brush all the Weckmen with it. This will give them a golden brown crust when baked.
Ask an adult for help. Place the Weckmen on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Bake at 180°C (top/bottom heat) for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.
Let them cool slightly. They taste best warm with milk or cocoa. You can also give them away, just like Saint Martin, who shared so that no one would freeze.