Bismarks German Recipes

BIG-BATCH BISMARKS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and 4 teaspoons sugar in warm water. Add the milk, eggs, oil, salt, remaining sugar and 8 cups flour until blended. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Divide dough in half. , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in two greased bowls, turning once to a grease tops. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch the dough down. Turn on a floured surface; roll out to 1/2-in. thickness. Place on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes., In an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 375°. Fry bismarks, a few at a time, for 1 minute on each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Cool for 2-3 minutes. Cut a small slit with a sharp knife in one side of each bismark; fill with about 1 teaspoon jelly. Decorate with frosting and sprinkles if desired.

FILLED BERLIN DOUGHNUTS (BISMARKS)

Steps:

• Soften the yeast in the warm water and let stand for 5 minutes or until it "blooms" or proofs.
• Put a half cup of sugar, the salt, butter, orange juice and rum extract in a large bowl.
• Pour the scalded milk over the ingredients in the bowl.
• Stir until the butter is melted.
• Cool to lukewarm.
• When cool, blend in 1 cup of the unbleached flour and beat until smooth.
• Stir in the yeast and add about half of the remaining flour, beating until smooth.
• Beat in the eggs.
• Then beat in enough of the remaining flour to make a SOFT (should be slightly sticky and light in weight).
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Knead until smooth and elastic (about 8 to 10 minutes).
• Form into a ball and put into a greased bowl, turning to grease the top of the ball of dough.
• Cover and let rise in a warm draft free place until doubled in bulk.
• Punch the dough down, kneading lightly to remove all of the air pockets, and turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface.
• Roll to 1/2-inch thickness.
• Cut the dough into rounds using a 3-inch biscuit or cookie cutter.
• Cover with waxed paper and let rise on the rolling surface away from drafts and direct heat, until double in bulk, (30 to 45 minutes).
• About 20 minutes before frying, heat the fat.
• Fry the doughnuts in the heated fat.
• Put only as many doughnuts at one time as will float uncrowded in a single layer deep in the fat.
• Fry 2 to 3 minutes or until lightly browned; turn the doughnuts with a fork or tongs, being careful not to pierce the doughnut, when they rise to the surface.
• Do this several times during the cooking.
• Lift from the fat, draining for a few seconds over the fat before removing to absorbent paper toweling.
• Cool.
• Cut a slit through the center in the side of each doughnut.
• Force about 1/2 ts of jam or jelly into the center and press lightly to close the slit. (A pastry bag and tube may be used to force the jelly or jam into the slit.) Shake 2 or 3 bismarks at one time in a bag containing granulated or powdered sugar. (Your choice.) Shake lightly to remove the excess sugar.

SUNDAY MORNING BISMARCKS

Steps:

• Put butter in a heavy frying pan or a shallow casserole.
• Place in an oven set at 475*.
• Meanwhile, mix milk, flour and eggs lightly to make a batter.
• When the butter has melted, add batter to the pan and bake for 12 minutes.
• Remove from oven and place bismarck on a plate.
• Pour a little of the melted butter on the pancake, and squeeze on a little lemon juice to taste.
• Roll it up like a loose jelly roll and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.
• Variations: Sprinkle with brown sugar.
• Forget the sugar and use a fruit or maple flavored syrup.
• Spread with a favorite fruit preserve or fresh berries.
• Lightly sprinkle with Grand Marnier.
• Fill with chestnut cream.

BISMARKS (GERMAN)

Steps:

• Scald the milk, cool to 115 degrees. Add 2 tablespoons of sugar and the yeast crumbled. Cover and set aside for tem minutes. It should get foamy. This way you know your yeast is active.
• I use my kitchen aid mixer. I add the yeast mixture to the bowl with 2 cups flour. Beat well with the paddle.
• In a separate bowl beat egg yolks and egg until thick and lemon colored. Beat in remaining sugar. Add to flour and yeast mixture. Beat.
• With mixer going on slow add salt, vanilla and remaining flour and melted butter until combined. Change dough hook for paddle. Knead dough until smooth and shiny. This is a soft dough. (I am going to try a bread machine next time I make this)
• Allow to rise in a warm area for 1 hour or until double. Turn out onto a board. Cut in two and let dough rest for ten minutes.
• Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface 1/2 inch thick. Cut 2 1/2 inch rounds. Place teaspoonfuls of jam in center of round. Brush the edge with egg whites and place another round on top. Press edges together.
• Arrange uncovered on a board and allow to rise until light for about an hour.
• Heat your oil (canola or vegetqable oil) in a deep fat fryer to 375 degrees. Drop carefully into fryer. Try to wear a long mitt or something so you do not burn yourself. Or use a big metal slotted spoon to place them in oil.
• They will rise to the top, turn them. You want them to be nicely browned in color. Do not prick them. Use a tongs to remove them. Place on paper towels.
• Sprinkle with granulated white sugar. Some people like to frost the tops with a light glaze of powdered sugar and milk.

BETHMAENNCHEN (GERMAN MARZIPAN CHRISTMAS COOKIES)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Knead marzipan well and divide into about forty 1 1/2-inch cubes of equal size. Roll each cube into a ball and shape into a round cylinder with a point.
• Push 3 halved almonds into each marzipan cylinder so the pointy sides of the almonds are facing the top.
• Beat egg white lightly in a cup and brush each cookie with egg white. Set onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated until the tops of the almonds are lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Store in airtight containers.