Delicious Amerikaner recipe for a comforting bite
Listen up, my fellow culinary enthusiasts! I have a special treat for you today. Are you ready to discover one of the best German baked goods out there? Then get excited to try Amerikaner, also known as German Vanilla Biscuits.
As strange as it sounds, these biscuits literally translate to “American” due to their resemblance to the classic black and white cookie cake often found in bakeries throughout America. Don’t let the name fool you though – these biscuits are a true gem of German baking, often found in German bakeries and enjoyed during Easter time.
Believe me when I say that this sweet biscuit is one of Germany’s best-kept secrets. As a lover of all things sweet and cake-like, I had to try making these myself after hearing about their popularity in Germany. Join me on this American-German fusion journey and let’s bake some Amerikaner biscuits together!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Are you in the mood for a classic German sweet biscuit that is perfect for any occasion? Look no further than the Amerikaner! These black and white cookies are soft and pillowy, cake-like in texture, and coated with a delicious icing sugar glaze.
One of the best things about this recipe is its versatility. Whether you’re looking to whip up a batch of cookies for Easter or just want something sweet to snack on, the Amerikaner is the ideal treat. In fact, it’s so popular in Germany that it’s often found in almost every bakery across the country.
But don’t let its German name fool you – these cookies are called Amerikaner because of their black and white appearance, not because they originated from America. Nevertheless, we Americans love them too!
This recipe is sure to delight your taste buds with its rich vanilla flavor and delicate texture. And if you’re feeling adventurous, why not add a touch of lemon zest to give it a citrusy twist? Trust me; it will make all the difference!
Plus, the Amerikaner recipe is straightforward and easy to follow. You only need common pantry staples like flour, sugar, eggs, butter, milk, baking powder, and vanilla extract. And voila! Your mouth-watering dessert is ready within an hour.
In conclusion, this famous sweet biscuit literally translates as “American,” but don’t be fooled by its name – this delicious dessert has been enjoyed by both Germans and Americans alike for generations. Try your hand at making these delightful treats today and indulge in this bottomless bite-sized slice of heaven that delivers on taste every time!
Ingredient List
The German vanilla biscuit recipe, also called Amerikaner in German, requires ingredients that are commonly found in any pantry. It is a simple recipe that requires only basic baking ingredients such as flour, sugar and butter. The only ingredient that might not be common would be the package of vanilla pudding used in the recipe.
Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this famous sweet biscuit that literally translates to “American” referring to GIs who introduced them during their time spent in Germany:
- 100 g butter
- 100 g sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 package vanilla pudding
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 250 g flour
- 3 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
These ingredients will yield around 12 to 15 black and white cookies or cake-like cookies that melt-in-your-mouth.
The Recipe How-To
Measure ingredients
Before we begin baking, let’s gather all the ingredients listed above. For measuring, it’s important to use standard measurements such as cups and grams. Baking is all about precision, and accurate measurements will result in perfect amerikaner every time.
Prepare dry ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 300g flour, 1 tbsp baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Sift all these ingredients to make sure there are no lumps present. This ensures that the biscuits won’t be dense and lumpy.
Prepare wet ingredients
In a separate bowl, cream together 100g butter and 100g sugar with a hand mixer or stand mixer until smooth and creamy. Gradually add in 2 eggs one at a time, continuing to mix until fully combined. Finally, pour in 150mL milk and stir well to combine.
Combine dry and wet ingredients
Add the dry mixture into the wet mixture slowly while stirring continuously. The dough will be fairly soft but not sticky.
Pipe the cookies onto the baking sheet
Preheat your oven to 180°C or 350°F (160°C fan) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Fill a piping bag fitted with a large round tip with the cookie batter. Pipe out the batter onto the prepared baking sheet in circular shapes, making sure they are evenly distributed apart on the baking sheet.
Tip: If you don’t have a piping bag or piping tip, you can easily use two spoons to form small dollops of batter onto the baking sheet.
Bake until golden brown
Bake for approximately 12-15 minutes, until golden brown around the edges. Once removed from the oven, let them cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
That’s it! Simple yet delicious Amerikaner German Vanilla Biscuits are ready to be devoured.
Substitutions and Variations
As with most baked goods, there’s always room to switch things up and experiment! Here are a few substitutions and variations you can try with the Amerikaner German Vanilla Biscuit recipe.
– Vegan Amerikaner: To make these treats vegan-friendly, you can swap out the eggs for a plant-based alternative like aquafaba. Use vegan butter instead of regular butter and almond milk instead of regular milk. You can also use vanilla extract instead of vanilla pudding mix.
– Lemon Amerikaner: Add some extra zest to your biscuits by adding some lemon zest to the batter, or by replacing milk with freshly squeezed lemon juice. You can also add a bit of lemon juice to the icing sugar topping for a delicious citrusy twist.
– Chocolate-Frosted Amerikaner: Turn these biscuits into chocolatey delights by adding cocoa powder to the batter. For an extra chocolatey twist, you can also add chocolate chips! Top the cookies with chocolate icing and let them cool until the icing sets.
– Black and White Amerikaner: This classic combination is easy to create with your Amerikaner biscuits. Simply split the batch in half and add cocoa powder to one half for black biscuits, and leave the other half plain for white biscuits. Combine them together in each serving for a delicious black and white biscuit cake!
Overall, feel free to get creative with your baking! As long as you stick to the basic measurements and ingredients in this vanilla biscuit recipe, you can modify it in various ways to suit your tastes.
Serving and Pairing
Now that your Amerikaner German Vanilla Biscuits are ready, it’s time to pair them with some delicious beverages or sauces. These biscuits are so versatile that they can be paired with almost any beverage of your choice. Here are some of my favorite pairings:
Serving:
– Tea: Nothing beats the classic pairing of tea and biscuits. The mild flavor of the vanilla in the biscuits perfectly complements the subtle flavors of tea, making for a wholesome and delightful tea time experience.
– Coffee: If you’re craving something stronger than tea, then coffee is your go-to option. The rich aroma of coffee blends well with the mild sweetness of the biscuits.
– Milk: The classic pairing for cookies, like Oreos, and milk works just as great with Amerikaner. Dip away and enjoy its softness.
Pairing:
– Lemon Icing: For a tangy twist to the vanilla flavor, drizzle some lemon icing on top of your Amerikaner biscuits.
– Chocolate Icing: If you have a sweet tooth like me, then chocolate icing is perfect for you! It complements the vanilla flavors well, without overpowering them.
– Vanilla Pudding: If you want to take your biscuit game to the next level, serve your Amerikaner biscuits with some homemade vanilla pudding. It is a match made in heaven!
These biscuits are so versatile; they can be enjoyed as morning treats, afternoon snacks or evening desserts. Vegan Amerikaner can be served during any events not worrying about dietary restrictions! Yes, these delicious bottomless bites won’t let you settle for less!
Amerikaner Biscuits are also great for gifting homemade baked goods; it’s a perfect choice for Easter German-style cookie baskets! Make some extra batches so that you have enough to share with friends and family at get-togethers or even when visiting neighbors.
Go ahead and try these pairing combinations out or experiment with others to find out what suits your taste buds best!
Make-Ahead, Storing and Reheating
Amerikaner cookies are best served fresh from the oven, but sometimes you may not have enough time to bake them on the day of serving. Thankfully, this recipe allows you to make-ahead and store them for later.
To make-ahead the dough, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for up to 2 days. When ready to bake, let the dough come to room temperature before rolling it into balls and baking.
If you have leftover cookies, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. The cookies tend to absorb moisture over time, so it’s best not to stack them on top of each other. If you want them to last longer, you can store them in the fridge for up to a week or freeze them for up to 3 months.
Reheating Amerikaner cookies is simple. Just pop them in the microwave for a few seconds until they are warm and soft again. Alternatively, you can reheat them in a preheated oven at 350°F (180°C) for 5-10 minutes.
Remember not to decorate your cookies with icing sugar until you’re ready to serve them, as this can cause the sugar to dissolve and make your cookies sticky when stored. Enjoy these sweet biscuit bites as an afternoon snack or as a treat during tea time!
Tips for Perfect Results
When baking the Amerikaner cookies, there are a few tips to keep in mind in order to achieve the best results. The first tip is to use room temperature ingredients. Take the butter, eggs, and milk out of the fridge at least 30 minutes before starting the recipe.
Another important tip is to measure the ingredients correctly, especially when it comes to flour. Too much flour can make the cookies tough and dry, while too little flour can result in flat and spread-out cookies. Use a kitchen scale for more accurate measurements.
To ensure that your Amerikaner cookies come out cake-like and moist, do not overmix the batter. Mix until all the ingredients are just combined, then stop. Overmixing can cause the gluten in the flour to develop too much, resulting in a tough texture.
When it comes to shaping the cookies, use a cookie scoop or spoon instead of your hands. This will help to create evenly sized cookies that bake uniformly. Space them out well on the baking tray as they will rise and spread during baking.
Finally, do not over-bake the Amerikaner cookies as they will continue to cook even once removed from the oven. Bake until edges are lightly golden brown but still soft in the center.
By following these tips, you’ll end up with perfect Amerikaner German Vanilla Biscuits every time!
Bottom Line
In conclusion, if you are looking for a delicious and easy-to-make biscuit recipe that is sure to impress your friends and family, give the Amerikaner (German Vanilla Biscuit) recipe a try. With its cake-like texture and sweet vanilla flavor, this famous sweet biscuit literally translates to “American” and refers to the GIs stationed in Germany after World War II who brought a love of baking these treats with them. Whether you prefer the classic black-and-white cookie styling or want to experiment with variations like lemon or chocolate icing, this versatile recipe can accommodate all your baking desires.
So next time you’re feeling nostalgic for those bottomless bites from the German bakery or just want to experience what German girls have been baking for generations, grab some flour, sugar, eggs, butter, vanilla extract, and baking powder and make your own Amerikaner at home. With its simple ingredient list and easy-to-follow instructions, this recipe is perfect for novice bakers and seasoned pros alike. So don’t be afraid to experiment with different flavors or shapes and make this recipe uniquely yours. Happy baking!
“amerikaner” (German Vanilla Biscuit) Recipe
Ingredients
- 100 g butter, softened
- 100 g sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 4 tablespoons milk
- 200 g flour
- 50 g starch (e.g.cornstarch)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
Icing
- 8 tablespoons icing sugar
- 1 lemon, juice of
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F.
- In a big bowl cream butter, sugar and vanilla. Little by little add the milk and the eggs.
- In a second bowl mix flour, baking powder and starch. Add to the butter-mixture and stirr in until just blended.
- Using 2 tablespoons drop 6 heaps of dough onto each paper-lined baking sheet (you will need 2). Make sure to leave enough space in between the heaps as dough will spread during baking.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to a wire-rack and allow to cool.
- If using the glaze stir together icing sugar and lemon juice and spread this onto the even side of the Amerikaner.
- Idea: For children you can spread the curved side of the biscuit with a chocolate icing and stick slivered almonds into them to make them appear like little hedgehogs. :).
Your Own Notes
Nutrition
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Mishra Vikas is a digital nomad who loves to explore the world and learn about its cultures. As a programmer, backpacker, and cook, he enjoys sharing his adventures and cooking up delectable dishes. Writing about his experiences, creating tasty recipes, and discovering new places are some of his favorite activities. He’s an avid traveler and passionate chef, always on the lookout for an exciting new journey.