Seasonal delight

Boxemännchen are one of Luxembourg’s most charming Saint Nicholas traditions. These little sweet bread figures are baked every December and bring joy to both children and adults. Their delicate aroma of warm dough, butter and vanilla instantly creates a festive atmosphere and evokes cosy winter days in the city.

With our easy recipe, the Boxemännchen turn out wonderfully light and fluffy – perfect for gifting, sharing, or enjoying with a hot chocolate after a stroll through beautifully illuminated Luxembourg City.

Ingredients

• 700 g flour
• 70 g soft butter
• 100 g sugar
• 1 packet vanilla sugar
• A pinch of salt
• 1 cube fresh yeast (42 g) or 2 packets dry yeast
• 350–380 ml lukewarm milk
• 1 egg

For glazing & decorating:

• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tsp milk
• Raisins or chocolate chips

Preparation

Prepare the dough:

Add lukewarm milk to a bowl, stir in the sugar and dissolve the yeast.

Add flour, vanilla sugar, salt, butter and the egg, then knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth and soft.

The dough should be slightly sticky – add 1–2 tablespoons of milk if necessary.

First rise:

Cover the dough and let it rise for 60–90 minutes,

until it has visibly increased in volume.

Shaping:

Place the dough on a lightly floured surface, knead briefly and divide into 10 equal pieces.

Shape each piece into a long figure.

Using scissors or a knife, cut out head, arms and legs.
Press the head on firmly so it doesn’t detach during baking.

Second rise:

Place the shaped figures on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and let them rise again for 20–30 minutes.

Glaze & decorate:

Brush the figures with the egg yolk mixed with 1 tsp milk.
Decorate with raisins or chocolate chips as desired.

Bake:

Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (fan) or 200°C (top/bottom heat)
for 12–15 minutes, until golden brown.

Video

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