Schmalzkuchen
Fried dough pillows with icing sugar
Schmalzkuchen: little fried dough pillows buried in icing sugar
Schmalzkuchen are the paper bag of tiny golden diamonds sold at fairs and Christmas markets across northern and eastern Germany, from Hamburg's Dom fair to the markets of Berlin and Leipzig. Despite the name they are now fried in vegetable oil, so this version is vegetarian. The quick quark-and-baking-powder dough puffs up into soft, slightly crisp cushions that you shake in icing sugar while warm. A common mistake is frying at too low a heat: the dough soaks up oil and turns heavy instead of puffing. Chef's tip: cut the dough into small 3 cm diamonds; bigger pieces brown outside before the middle has cooked through.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 9 oz plain flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 ⅜ oz caster sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 egg
- 3 ½ tbsp milk
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
- 4 ¼ cups sunflower oil for deep-frying
- 2 ⅛ oz icing sugar
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Mix the 9 oz plain flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 ⅜ oz caster sugar, 1 tsp vanilla sugar and 1 pinch salt in a bowl. Add the 4 ½ oz quark (or thick strained yoghurt), 1 egg, 3 ½ tbsp milk and 2 tbsp sunflower oil and knead briefly into a soft, smooth dough that no longer sticks to your hands.
5 minStep 2: Roll out on a floured surface to 1 cm thick and cut into 3 cm diamonds with a knife.
5 minStep 3: Heat the 4 ¼ cups sunflower oil for deep-frying in a deep pan to 350°F; a cube of bread should turn golden in 40 seconds. Fry the diamonds in batches of 10–12 for about 3 minutes, turning once, until puffed and golden brown all over.
15 minStep 4: Break one open to check: the inside should be fluffy, not doughy. Lift out with a slotted spoon and drain briefly on kitchen paper. Keep the oil temperature steady between batches.
2 minStep 5: Put the warm pieces in a paper bag or bowl with the 2 ⅛ oz icing sugar and shake until thickly coated. Eat the same day, ideally warm.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 7 g
- Carbs
- 45 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does schmalzkuchen take?
- About 35 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of baking powder?
- ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda + ½ tsp cream of tartar per 1 tsp.
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