You are here

vegan dutch letters

hey. so... the only pastry i've ever come to enjoy has been dutch letters. if you are unclear as to what they are, Pella, Iowa is famous for making them so delicious! They are an almond based s-shaped pastry. Because they are from the dutch areas around in Iowa, I can find them. What I CAN'T find, however, are vegan versions or recipes of them. I am IN LOVE with these dutch letters, so I was wondering if anyone has a recipe for dutch letters and can help with conversion, or is anyone making some they would be willing to ship to me (i'd totally put down some cash for this)?!?! In fact, I would almost prefer finding someone who already makes them... its easier for me! haha, i can't help it, i'm not lazy, i'm just not a baker... i'd rather cook meals than cakes and stuff. any info would be helpful!

thanks fellow vegwebbers!! :>http://farm1.static.flickr.com/146/333066495_da8b9f7d2f.jpg <---- dutch letters

Gosh, I haven't had Dutch letters since I graduated from HS back in Des Moines.  Wow, the memories.  Yummy.

Anyway, here is a recipe I found by Bryanna Clark Grogan on her website at http://www.bryannaclarkgrogan.com/page/page/773148.htm#december1,2003.  You might give it a try.

BRYANNA’S VEGAN DUTCH LETTER COOKIES
OR ST. NICHOLAS’ EVE LETTERS (LETTERBLANKET)

Shape these almond-filled cookies into the initials of your family or guests, or spell out names or greetings with cookie letters.

2 c. unbleached flour
1 c. very cold Earth Balance
1/3 cup ice water
8 ounces almond paste
1/2 T. EnerG egg replacer beaten with 2 T. water
1/4 c. very light granulated unbleached sugar or white beet sugar
2 T. soymilk plus more for brushing
coarse unbleached sugar for sptinkling

Place the flour in a medium bowl.  Cut in the chilled Earth Balance until the texture of a coarse meal.  Add ice water gradually (1 T. at a time) while stirring with a until dough forms a ball. Cover the dough and chill for30 minutes.

To make filling, in a small bowl, mix together the almond paste and sugar. Add the egg replacer and mix well.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/4-inch
thickness, making it as square as possible. Cut the dough into strips 6 inches long and 1 and 1/2 inches wide (about the width of a ruler). Using a pastry bag or a strong plastic bag with a small hole cut from the corner, pipe almond filling down the center of the strip starting halfway down. Fold the top half of the strip down over the almond filling even with the bottom edge.  Seal the edge.  Flip over gently so the seam is on the bottom.

Shape strips into desired letters, brush with soymilk and  sprinkle with sugar. Bake in preheated oven for about 15  minutes.  They may need to be baked for 5-15 minutes more-- until golden brown and crisp. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.

0 likes

THANK YOU THANK YOU!
you graduated in des moines?!?! which school? its such a small world. i live near Lincoln HS but I actually graduated HS in Indianola.

0 likes

I am a Valley grad, but don't hold that against me.  Heading back to WDM this weekend to visit the fam, but it's so different now it is almost unrecognizable to me.  Here's hoping I can find something vegan to eat at the Iowa State Fair (yeah, right). 

0 likes

let me know if you find anything at the state fair thats vegan. that seems like mission impossible! i won't hold it against ya!  ;)b

0 likes
Log in or register to post comments