Banket
CourseDessert
Place of originNetherlands
Serving temperatureHot or cold
Main ingredients
VariationsDutch letters

Banket (bahn-KET) is a type of sweet pastry filled with almond paste, which originated in the Netherlands. It is made in several forms, each of which go by various names. One variety consists of long bars or loaves which are sliced into individual servings – also referred to in English as almond rolls or almond patties, and in Dutch as banketstaven. Another variety are rolled logs shaped into letters – also referred to in English as Dutch letters,[1] banket letters,[2] almond letters, or butter letters;[3] and in Dutch as banketletter or boterletter.[4][5] It is sometimes made as individual banket or almond patties.

Banket is made by rolling pastry dough around an almond paste filling, then baking it. The pastry has a porous, airy, and flaky texture, with a dense granular filling.[6]

In the Netherlands and in ethnic Dutch communities in the Midwestern United States, it is most popular during Christmas season. It is also popular during Dutch festivals in the United States.

Ingredients and preparation

Dutch letters in Iowa

Banket is typically prepared using a mixture of flour, eggs, and butter, or puff pastry as its base, then filled with almond paste, and dusted with sugar. Marzipan, an almond paste prepared with almond meal and honey or sugar, is sometimes used as the filling.[7] Although usually prepared and sold fresh, it can also be packaged for retail sale.

In one popular form, banket is rolled or folded into a log a foot or two long,[8][9] baked, then cut into short lengths for serving, hot or cold. It can also be frozen for serving later. It is sometimes prepared as a cookie. The "Dutch letter" is rolled and shaped into a letter.[2][10][11][4] Traditionally, the pastry was shaped into the initial of the family's surname,[11] but today is most commonly shaped as the letter S.[11][4]

History

Banket packaged for retail sale in Michigan

Netherlands

In the Netherlands banketletter are traditionally eaten on Sinterklaasavond on December 5.[12][13] [14][15]

United States

Banket was introduced in the United States by Dutch immigrants,[3] in Pella, Iowa, Orange City, Iowa, and Holland, Michigan, each founded in the 1800s by "Dutch religious refugees".[10] Dutch letters are a common treat at the annual Tulip Festival in Pella, and may be prepared by local residents and sold at local churches.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kaercher, D.; Stefko, B. (2006). Taste of the Midwest: 12 States, 101 Recipes, 150 Meals, 8,207 Miles and Millions of Memories. Best of the Midwest Book Series. Globe Pequot Press. p. 43. ISBN 978-0-7627-4072-7.
  2. 1 2 Otto, E.; Otto, J. (2004). Our Times, Our Lives. AuthorHouse. p. 227. ISBN 978-0-595-33563-3.
  3. 1 2 van der, N.S.; Taalunie, N. (2009). Cookies, Coleslaw, and Stoops: The Influence of Dutch on the North American Languages. OAPEN (Open Access Publishing in European Networks). Amsterdam University Press. p. 133. ISBN 978-90-8964-124-3.
  4. 1 2 3 (Firm), Better Homes and Gardens Books (2003). Biggest Book of Cookies. Better Homes & Gardens. Better Homes and Gardens Books. p. 408. ISBN 978-0-696-21713-5.
  5. ↑ Publications International, Ltd (2000). ChristmasTreasury: Family Classic Edition. Publications International, Limited. ISBN 978-0-7853-4406-3.
  6. ↑ Rice, L.R. (2009). Explorer's Guide Iowa (Explorer's Complete). Explorer's Complete. Countryman Press. p. 330. ISBN 978-1-58157-824-9.
  7. ↑ Basch, H.; Slater, S. (2012). Frommer's Exploring America by RV. Frommer's Complete Guides. Wiley. p. 246. ISBN 978-1-118-22325-3.
  8. ↑ Cook, Michigan Cottage (2012-12-24). "HOW TO MAKE DUTCH BANKET WITH A RECIPE FROM JOYCE'S MOM'S 1934 DUTCH COOKBOOK". Michigan Cottage Cook. Retrieved 2017-03-25.
  9. ↑ "Banket Recipe". Allrecipes. Retrieved 2017-03-25.
  10. 1 2 Kaercher, D.; Stefko, B. (2006). Taste of the Midwest: 12 States, 101 Recipes, 150 Meals, 8,207 Miles and Millions of Memories. Best of the Midwest Book Series. Globe Pequot Press. p. 43. ISBN 978-0-7627-4072-7.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Fertig, J.M. (2011). Prairie Home Breads: 150 Splendid Recipes from America's Breadbasket. Harvard Common Press. p. 204. ISBN 978-1-55832-173-1.
  12. ↑ Karin Engelbrecht. "Banketstaaf - Recipe for Banketstaaf - Traditional Dutch Christmas Pastries". About.com Food. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  13. ↑ Stevens, B.D.; Rice, D.H.; Vasconcelles, K. (1994). Celebrate Christmas Around the World. Holidays Series. Teacher Created Materials. p. 57. ISBN 978-1-55734-485-4.
  14. ↑ Howard, C. (2012). Faiths and Festivals: A guide to the religions and celebrations in our multicultural society. Practical pre-school. Andrews UK Limited. ISBN 978-1-907241-89-5.
  15. ↑ Wernecke, H.H. (1959). Christmas Customs Around the World. Westminster Press. p. 53. ISBN 978-0-664-24258-9.

Further reading

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