Aachener Printen
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
AACHENER PRINTEN
It is to be believed that there is a stunning tradition: For about 4,000
years people are confecting a honey-cake (well, rumours say it's a short
range weapon1, see below) called "Printen".
Some sources state that the Printe comes from Egypt and ancient Greek.
Through some mysterious ways this honorable cake came to the city of
Aachen, the seat of Carolus the
Great. Whatever he did with this stiffy, sticky, hardly edible peace
of brown concrete! But the former delicacy became a vulgar cake, a cake
for the poor. Instead of expensive honey they used sugar and beet-syrup.
But anyway! Aachen without Printen is like tea without water, like
day without night - well, you know what I mean. I suppose you should give
it a try. Take a look at Lambertz,
they made a fortune with it!
I hope you are having fun with the recipe, and I apologize for the
bad translation. I am a native german speaker. Please post any recommendations
to improve this entry.
INGREDIENTS
250 g sugar beet-syrup
200 g sugar
50 g butter
500 g flour
15 g anise
10 g pinks, pulverized
50 g candied orange peel, chopped
a little bit of cardamom
1 package baking powder
Milk
candy (coarse lumps)
PREPARATION
Heat the syrup together with the sugar and butter, until the sugar has
melt. Then wait until it has cooled down somewhat. Now add the spices and
the candied orange peel and also add the flour that was mixed with the
baking powder. Leave the dough over night in a cool place. On the next
day roll out the dough until it is about 5 mm thick. Then cut it into rectangles,
each about 3x8 cm. Place the pieces on a greased and with flour covered
plate. Cover the Printen with milk and sprinkle the candy over them. Now
bake them at 180°C for about 15 minutes.
Yum, yum!
SIDENOTES
Printen can be stored for months! But only the best are really sticky,
spicy, tough and so hard you could beat the Bugblatter Beast of Traal with
it to death! So either you dig 'em or you hate 'em. Nevertheless your dentist
will make a great revenue... Take one bite - you'll never forget!
1Even more bewildering rumours state,
it is more of a long/middle range weapon, mostly to be thrown at the victims.
it is more of a long/middle range weapon, mostly to be thrown at the victims.
