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Maybe some of you have never heard of this authentic German dessert recipe, but for the Transylvania area, where I was born and lived most of my life, this recipe is a must, especially during the holidays.
German Hanklich is an extremely easy to make dessert, which requires a very short list of ingredients, and will fill your home with the holiday smell, whether you bake it in summer or winter.
What is so special about German Hanklich dessert?
This wonderful authentic German dessert recipe is special because it does not require a long or complicated list of ingredients and, in addition, it allows you to adapt the recipe to your needs or tastes. Basically, using 6-7 ingredients, depending on the type of Hanklich you choose to bake, you will get a baking tray (even two) of this delicious and healthy German pie.
For me, growing up in a region of Romania where the German influence is predominant (more precisely in Sighisoara, in the heart of Transylvania), the specific taste and aroma of this Hanklich represents, without a doubt, a taste of my childhood.
In our house there was no celebration without Hanklich. My grandmother never prepared pompous cakes full of creams and textures, because on Christmas, New Year’s or Easter, the only desserts present on our table were German Hanklich (a.k.a. Lichiu) or the traditional Romanian Sweet Bread recipe (a.k.a Cozonac). And these two simple but delicious sweet treats, based on simple and natural ingredients, were enough to satisfy our cravings.
Besides the fact that it requires few ingredients, this German Christmas dessert recipe is special because it is extremely versatile. Practically, this Hanklich can be prepared simply, with a thin layer of cream on top, with sweet cheese, with semolina or with fruits. Thus, taking into account your preferences, but also the ingredients you have at hand, you can choose to prepare one of the Hanklich variants mentioned.
But we will analyze each of them separately in the following…
The basic type of Hanklich dessert
Certainly, the easiest way to prepare this authentic German dessert is to cover the dough already spread out in the baking tray with a thin layer of cream made of egg yolks and heavy cream.
I want to tell you from the beginning that the steps that have to be followed to obtain the dough used for any of the Hanklich variants are the same. The differences are only in what concerns the top layer, that is, the way we choose to “garnish” this authentic German dessert.
In fact, the dough for Hanklich is the same as the dough for Romanian Sweet Bread (Cozonac), only that in the case of the dessert of German origin, the dough will be spread in a baking tray during the baking process, while the dough for Cozonac will be filled with the composition that we like the most and then rolled to form the Sweet Bread roulade.
So, in order to make a simple Hanklich, all you need to do is place the dough into a baking tray, pour a layer of cream obtained by mixing egg yolks with heavy cream and a little sugar on top of the dough, and then sprinkle some cinnamon if you like it. Bake the Hanklich and I guarantee you will enjoy a delicious, smooth and healthy dessert in no time.
German Dessert Hanklich with fruits
The fruit version of this German pie is perfect for summer days, when we find fresh fruit in gardens or markets. But, if you follow the advice given by me in the article on Food Preservation methods, then you will be able to enjoy fruits such as plums or apricots stored in the freezer, for the cold season, even in winter, if you want to prepare such a dessert.
The fruits that you can use for this type of fruit Kanklich are: plums cut in half or quarters, pears peeled and cut into smaller pieces, apricots cut in halves or quarters, but apples also work great if they are peeled and cut into smaller pieces. In addition, I like to sprinkle a little cinnamon on top of the fruits, because I really like the taste, but also the smell of cinnamon. So, whether you choose to prepare this authentic German dessert recipe on a summer day or for Christmas, I recommend you to garnish it with a little fine cinnamon, for an extra taste and aroma.
Basically, after spreading the Hanklich dough in the baking tray, all you have to do is add your favorite fruits and then cover them with a thin layer of fine cream obtained by mixing egg yolks with a few spoons of cream and a small amount of sugar. Then, if you want to follow my example, you can sprinkle some cinnamon on top of the Hanklich and place it in the oven to bake. It’s that simple to get a German Christmas dessert in your own kitchen.
Hanklich with Semolina Pudding
I have to admit that this is the type of Hanklich that I prefer the most. I think I associate it with my childhood and practically its taste and aroma remind me of those years, because my grandmother always baked this type of German pie for me. I remember that I always asked her to prepare the layer of semolina pudding as thick as possible, because I like the taste and texture of this pudding. I don’t know if this happens in other countries as well, but in Romania, semolina with milk or semolina pudding is one of the basic desserts among children. It is tasty, filling and extremely easy to prepare, so mothers cook it very often for their children, especially for small children.
All you need to do to get this creamy semolina pudding is heat 500 gr milk into a Saucepan then slowly add 50 gr semolina, using a teaspoon. Boil this pudding for 6-8 minutes, continuously stirring with a whisk. Even if the pudding seems too fluid while hot, once it cools, it hardens and becomes a creamy custard.
So, as you may have already figured out from the information presented, this type of Hanklich consists of 3 layers, namely:
– the dough, which is the same for all types of Hanklich
– the semolina pudding layer, which will cover the dough layer in the baking tray;
– the top layer, consisting in the cream obtained by mixing egg yolks with heavy cream and a little sugar.
In the end, if you wish, you can sprinkle some cinnamon over the entire surface of the Hanklich that will be placed in the oven for baking.
That’s about all, but anyway you can check out the full recipe below, as well as a short video that will show you how to place the layers so that you can get a delicious authentic German dessert in your kitchen, whenever you crave for a healthy and delicious homemade dessert.
Hanklich with Semolina pudding Full Recipe
I made this German dessert using the Thermomix, to ease my cooking, but if you don’t own this kitchen appliance you can use your hands or a kneading robot. You will be able to make the best German dessert recipe in your own kitchen if you follow the steps presented below.
Homemade German Hanklich Recipe – One of the Best German Dessert
Equipment
- 1 Thermomix / Kneading robot
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Whisk
- 1 Spatula
- 1 Saucepan
- 2 Trays
Ingredients
Dough:
- 500 g flour
- 370 ml milk
- 100 g sugar
- 2 pcs egg yolks
- 50 ml oil
- 50 g melted butter
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pc cube fresh yeast
- Optional: vanilla extract
Semolina pudding:
- 500 ml milk
- 50 g semolina
- 1 vanilla sugar
Top layer:
- 2 pcs egg yolks
- 5 tbsp sour cream
- 2 tsp sugar
Instructions
- Put the fresh yeast into a bowl and add the warm milk and 1 tbsp brown sugar. Mix them well. I used the Thermomix for 2 min – 37° C – Speed 2;
- Leave the mixture to cool for 2-3 minutes;
- Add the egg yolks, the salt, the oil and the melted butter (not while it is warm) and also add the flour by using a sieve;
- Optional: If you want, you can add 1 tsp of vanilla extract.
- Knead the dough for 10 minutes using your hands of a kneading robot. I used the Thermomix using KNEAD – 5 minutes;
- Put a foil over the dough and let it rise for 1 hour to double its volume.
- After 1 hour, take out the dough and roll it with a rolling pin until you have a nice dough sheet that you can put into the backing tray. Remember, from these ingredients you will obtain two dough sheets.
Don’t forget that these are the steps required to achieve any type of Hanklich!
- Into a small pot, put the 500 ml milk to boil. Once it starts boiling, add the semolina. It is very important to use a whisk when adding the semolina, to create a smooth mixture. Add the vanilla sugar to give it a special flavor. Boil it for 10 minutes while mixing with the whisk. Let it cool.
- Once it is at the room temperature, pour the pudding over the dough sheet.
- In the end, mix the two egg yolks with the sour cream and the sugar and create a mixture that will represent the top layer of the Hanklich.
- Bake the tarte in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes at 180° C (356° F)
Video
Nutrition
If you need help in placing the layers properly for the Semolina Pudding Hanklich recipe, feel free to watch this short video.
German Pie Hanklich Video Recipe
So, if you are looking for a unique Christmas dessert or you are simply craving for a sweet treat, please try this delicious and easy to make German pie. Whether you opt for the fruits Hanklich or the one with semolina pudding, I guarantee you that it will be a great choice for kids and adults as well.
Also, if you are looking for Christmas dessert inspiration, feel free to try my dessert recipes, which are healthy, delicious and most of them are kidsfriendly. Don’t forget about Gingerbread Biscuits and Brown Sugar and Walnut Cookies, because these are a must for kids.
Until the next easy and delicious homemade recipe here on easeyourcooking.com, I wish you all a great time spent with your loved ones. Bye 😊
