Spitz Buban - Our Family Tradition

Some of my ancestors came from Germany.  For as long as I can remember, my mom (and her mom and grandmother) made a little German cookie for Christmas.  It's called a Spitz Buban and is basically two butter cookies covered in breadcrumbs with plum jam sandwiched between and a dusting of powdered sugar on top.  However, making them is a bit more complicated than that.

Our family has adopted the tradition, and this is the first time in 31 years that I've documented the making of them.

{1} Make the dough (recipe at the end).

{2} Set up the assembly line.  

 {3} Roll out the dough to about 1/8 of an inch thick.  It helps tremendously if you use a floured pastry cloth and a "sock" for your rolling pin!  

{4} Once you cut the cookies out of the dough (we've always used a fluted diamond shape), you brush one side with an egg wash.  

{5} Then, put the egged side face down in a plate of bread crumbs.

{6} Turn them over onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

and, fill it up!

See how thin they are...

{7} Pile all of the baked cookies up, and set up your second assembly line.

{8} The recipe calls for red plum jam.  Believe me, even if it isn't your favorite normally, it is the best jam for this particular cookie.

 {9} Spread a thin layer of the jam on one cookie and fill another cookie sheet.

{10} Then, begin to top them.

 {11} Dust the tops with powdered sugar.

 {12} Finally, flip them over as you put them in a tin, and dust the bottoms.

Enjoy!

Spitz Buban

1 lb. butter softened to room temperature (do not soften in microwave)

1 C. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

3 C. flour + more to make dough workable (I always use at least 4 cups)

Mix butter, sugar and vanilla until well blended.  Then add flour and knead dough until smooth.  Roll out dough to about 1/8 inch thick.  Cut with diamond cookie cutter and brush the top with beaten egg.  Then dip in bread crumbs.  Bake in a hot oven (375) for 8 minutes.  You don't want them to brown.  When completely cooled, spread plum jam between two cookies and sprinkle with powdered sugar.  

Cookies stay good in an airtight container for weeks.

7 Quick Takes: A Little Christmas Around Here

I haven't linked up with Jen in awhile, so I'm giving it a go today.  

{1} We finally put up part of our Christmas decor yesterday.  We're waiting to go get a tree for a few more days.  Last year we got it a bit early (maybe didn't water it enough), and it could have burned our house down in an instant.  So, we're waiting, but I'm so ready!

Carter finally gets and enjoys the advent calendars.  Yet, it is really hard for him to understand that we only open one per day.  

 Peter, well, he doesn't really care.

{2} Last year, my grandma bough the boys this dancing Santa.  I think they were a bit leery of it.  This year, different story.  He dances all.day.long.  It's the best toy ever.

{3} These chocolate covered gingerbread men came in the mail yesterday.  They're from Edward Marc, and their peanut butter pretzels might be the best chocolate I've ever tasted.  Such a special treat!

 While blurry, I love the way Peter is looking at Carter...

 Carter isn't so sure quite what to think...

 But, John Paul is a huge fan!

{4} Saint Nicholas came and filled the boys (and our) shoes with new PJs and a candy cane.  Carter picked out the shoes he wanted filled, haha!

Carter is always the most excited acting of the bunch, and it makes my heart happy. 

Peter wasted no time...didn't even take off the wrapper.

{5} In honor of St. Nick and his gifts, we've declared it a PJ day.  It might also help that there is a wind chill of -1 degree outside, too.

{6} Our baby turns one on Sunday, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  So hard to believe.

What I love so much about this is that John Paul II (John Paul's namesake) was so incredibly devoted to Mary, and John Paul was born on one of her feast days.  Blessings all around.

{7} I don't know who all watches Blacklist, but the season finale was amazing.  I'm anxiously awaiting January and the second half of the season.  Until then, we'll be doing some Christmas baking, birthday celebrating and weekend relaxing.  Hope yours is wonderful!

Don't forget to stop in at Jen's!

Sugared Almonds and My Little Elves

The boys and I made a few Christmas goody bags of sugared almonds yesterday.  We tried this recipe in the crock pot.  Today, we'll try this one and see if there is any difference.  

 Carter has a very distinct "game face."

 Here is another version of it...

 Peter wasn't following directions and got a bit mad at me...

 In the crock pot...

 Finished and cooling...

 And, bagged up for Christmas...

They are tasty, but if I'm honest, I think I'd prefer pecans.  Oh well :)