Ingredients
Dough
- 500 gplain flour
- 10 ginstant yeast
- 60 gsugar
- 1 tspsalt
- 2eggs
- 200 mlwarm milk
- 100 gbutter, softened
- zest of 1 lemon
To finish
- 1egg, beaten
- raisins or currants, for eyes and buttons
- pearl sugar or flaked almonds
- 1small clay pipe per figure
Directions
- Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt, then add the eggs, warm milk and lemon zest and knead for 8 minutes into a smooth dough.
- Work in the softened butter a piece at a time and keep kneading for another 5 minutes, until the dough is glossy and pulls away cleanly from the bowl.
- Cover and prove for about 1 hour 30 minutes, until doubled in size.
- Divide into six. Roll each piece into a fat oval, then pinch in a neck about a third of the way down, cut and roll two arms out from the sides, and cut upwards from the base to separate the legs.
- Keep the arms and legs thick and stubby. Slender limbs look better raw and then bake through and burn long before the body is cooked.
- Set the figures well apart on lined trays and prove for a further 45 minutes.
- Press raisins in for eyes and a row of buttons, then brush all over with beaten egg and scatter pearl sugar or flaked almonds where you like.
- Bake at 180°C (355°F) for 18 to 20 minutes, until golden. Lay a sheet of foil loosely over them if the arms are colouring well ahead of the body.
- Cool on a rack, then push the clay pipe into the crook of an arm. The pipe always goes in after baking, never before.
- Give them to children on the morning of 6 December, for Kleeschen, the Luxembourgish Saint Nicholas.
Technique
- The pipe is the detail that makes it a Boxemännchen rather than any other bread man, and it is a real clay pipe, not a baked one.
- Thick limbs, and a foil shield if they run ahead. Almost every failure here is uneven baking.
- The dough is a brioche and behaves like one: keep it cool while shaping or the butter weeps out.
Substitutions
- A wooden or paper pipe if a clay one cannot be found.
- Milk in place of one egg for a lighter, less rich dough.
Variations
- The German Stutenkerl or Weckmann, essentially the same figure with regional names.
- With chocolate chips pressed in instead of raisins.
- Made large, as a single figure for the middle of the table.
History
Given to Luxembourgish children on 6 December for Kleeschen, the local Saint Nicholas.
Frequently asked questions
What is Boxemännchen?
Boxemännchen is a bread & pastry from Luxembourg: brioche man with a clay pipe, baked for Saint Nicholas. Given to Luxembourgish children on 6 December for Kleeschen, the local Saint Nicholas.
How long does Boxemännchen take to make?
Boxemännchen takes 30 min plus 2 hr 15 min rising of preparation and 20 min of cooking. The recipe makes 6 figures. It is rated medium to make.
What can I substitute in Boxemännchen?
Yes, within limits. A wooden or paper pipe if a clay one cannot be found. Milk in place of one egg for a lighter, less rich dough.
What is the most important thing to get right in Boxemännchen?
Cool on a rack, then push the clay pipe into the crook of an arm. The pipe always goes in after baking, never before.
