Bethmännchen

Bethmännchen (German for "a little Bethmann") is a pastry made from marzipan with almond, powdered sugar, rosewater, flour and egg. It is a traditional cookie usually baked for Christmas Day and is widely available in chocolate shops around Frankfurt.[1]

Bethmännchen
TypePastry
Place of originGermany
Main ingredientsMarzipan, almonds, powdered sugar, rosewater, flour, eggs

It is a special commodity sold in Frankfurt's Christmas market, one of the oldest Christmas markets [2] in Germany which dates back as far as 1393.[3]

History

The name comes from the family of Bethmann.[4] Legend has it that Parisian pastry chef Jean Jacques Gautenier developed the recipe for banker and city councilor Simon Moritz von Bethmann in 1838.[5] Originally the Bethmännchen were decorated with four almonds, one for each son of Simon Moritz. After the death of his son Heinrich in 1845, the fourth almond was removed. However, this story is unlikely, since Simon Moritz had died already in 1826.

After one and a half centuries of manufacturing, its form and recipe has never been changed.[6]

See also

References
  1. Frankfurt Christmas Market Retrieved 25 August 2013
  2. Holiday in Frankfurt – Your guide to Frankfurt, Germany Retrieved 25 August 2013
  3. ONLY IN FRANKFURT: HOT APPLE WINE AND “BETHMÄNNCHEN” MARZIPAN CANDIES LURE VISITORS TO THE CITY’S TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS MARKET Archived 2017-12-30 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 25 August 2013
  4. You can bank on a good time in Frankfurt Retrieved 25 August 2013
  5. British in Germany, Living in Germany Retrieved 25 August 2013
  6. Christmas Recipe from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in London Retrieved 25 August 2013
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