Lower Silesian gingerbread – a long tradition

Christmas is approaching, and therefore in many homes baking gingerbread has already begun, or if you prefer, “gingerbread”.

Lower Silesia has a long tradition in this area. Supposedly, the first mention of gingerbread makers, sounding “piperatas tortas facientes”, appeared as early as 1293 in Świdnica, and gingerbread shops appeared in many towns. There were as many as six gingerbread guilds in Wrocław alone. Today, many factories are trying to recreate the old flavors of these pastries.

Interestingly, gingerbread was once considered medicine and its baking was mostly done by monks. Thanks to their spicy ingredients, they stimulate the appetite, cure stomach ailments and indigestion, and warm up. But above all, they enhanced the mood with their delicious taste.

The famous Bauernbissen gingerbread – a hit on the Christmas markets

Bauernbissen – gingerbread made from sugar molasses with the addition of fennel – ruled the Christmas markets of old Wrocław. Many other types of simple country gingerbread with the addition of unsophisticated spices were also called so.

Grzegorz Sobel, a specialist in Lower Silesian flavors, cites in his book “Christmas Fairs in Old Wrocław” (published by Księży Młyn Dom Wydawniczy) the memories of August Friedrich Krause (1872-1928), a college teacher, novelist and novelist born in Wrocław, who wrote about the famous Bauernbissen:

Bauerbissen gingerbread – the recipe is recommended by Grzegorz Sobel

Ingredients:

• 500 g of flour,
• 200 g of honey,
• 100 g of sugar,
• 2 yolks,
• 100 ml buttermilk,
• 2-3 pinches of salt,
• 5 g baking soda,
• 5 g of baking powder,
• 2 teaspoons of fennel,
• half a teaspoon of cinnamon,
• 2 pinches of ground cloves.

How to make Bauerbissen gingerbread?

Preparation:

• we knead the dough,
• roll out the dough into pieces the thickness of a finger,
• we cut strips,
• we roll them
• cut out pieces “for the thumb” (that’s what the old recipe says),
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in a preheated oven at 180 degrees.

Delicious aromatic gingerbread cookies are ready. Enjoy your lunch!