Magenbrot Explained

Name Lang:de
Name Italics:true
Region:Northern Switzerland, southern Germany
Type:Pastry
Main Ingredient:Cloves, cinnamon, star anise, nutmeg, cocoa, honey or sugar
No Commons:true
No Recipes:true

(pronounced as /de/) is a small, sweet glazed biscuit that shares many similarities with a gingerbread cookie.[1] The name of the dish directly translates to "stomach-bread"[2] as it is believed to help improve digestion. This recipe first appeared in Swiss cooking books in the late 18 century.[3] It is usually sold in Christmas markets in northern Switzerland and southern Germany.[4] It is known by many names including, German: Gewürzkuchen, or .

Appearance and composition

Magenbrot is known for its diamond shape and dark brown exterior [5] in Germany, and its bread slice shape in Switzerland. This pastry is made with flour, wheat, baking soda, star anise, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg and sweetened using honey and sugar. Candied orange, lemon peel, and hazelnut are also added for flavoring.[6] Some types of Magenbrot are coated with a sweet Cocoa glaze.[7]

It is usually prepared over a period of two days. The dough is made beforehand and left for an entire night so it can settle properly. It is then separated into small pieces and baked in an oven.

was also previously called (Alpine herbs bread).[8]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Spiegel. Mary Jo. You Won't Need Translator to Enjoy Magenbrot. The Cincinnati Enquirer. 10 December 2003. 3 December 2013.
  2. http://food52.com/hotline/14938-magenbrot "Magenbrot"
  3. https://www.patrimoineculinaire.ch/Produkt/Magenbrot-Pains-a-lestomac/377 "Magenbrot, Pains à l'estomac" Kulinarisches Erbe der Schweiz
  4. http://theflorencenewspaper.com/new/the-christmas-markets-in-europe/ Kapur, Avani. The Christmas Markets in Europe." The Florence Newspaper.
  5. http://mcuniverse.com/2011/magenbrot-stomach-bread-pastries/ Cohen, Marlies. "Magenbrot (Stomach Bread Pasties)."
  6. http://www.about.ch/culture/food/magenbrot.html "Magenbrot (Sweet Pieces of Bread)." About.ch.
  7. http://www.baselinsider.ch/jahreshighlights/basler-herbstmesse/vom-magenbrot-und-den-magenmorsellen.html Rieder, Christian. "Vom Magenbrot und den Magenmorsellen." Basel Insider Website.
  8. Schweizer Familie 41/2009, p. 37