Mecklenburg Egg Wreath

Wreath Cookies
Mecklenburger Eierkränzchen
Classic Christmas treat from Mecklenburg-Vormpommern with a sweet eggy lemon flavor. Before there were Christmas trees, which first came into fashion in mid-19th century Mecklenburg, children received their Christmas gifts in their stocking caps - today's lavish gift-giving did not exist at that time. Children put their hats on the window sill, and the parents filled them with pastries, including these egg wreaths.
Course Dessert
Region Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Servings 30 pieces

Ingredients

  • 1/2 lb butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • grated zest of 1 lemon
  • 7 hard-boiled egg yolk
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 3-3/4 cups flour

To decorate:

  • 4 egg whites
  • 4 tbsp granulated sugar

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 440°F/225°C.
  • Melt the butter and beat with the sugar and lemon peel until fluffy. Press the hard-boiled egg yolk through a sieve, add to the butter mixture and stir well.
  • Add the flour and knead into a dough. Cover the dough and let sit for an hour.
  • Form the dough into finger-sized rolls. Cut the rolls into pieces about 4-3/4 inches long, shape into wreaths and place on a greased baking sheet.
  • For the decoration, beat the egg whites until somewhat stiff. Coat the wreaths with the egg whites and sprinkle generously with the granulated sugar.
  • Bake the wreaths in preheated oven for 12-15 minutes.

Notes

Preparation time: 30 minutes (plus resting and baking time)

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