Leipziger lerche is a German pastry filled with nuts and strawberry jam, originally made with larks before bird hunting was banned. The pastry is now made with a shortcrust pastry and nut filling, with a jam or cherry center and a pastry cross on top. The name has been protected since 2004, and visitors to Leipzig can still enjoy the traditional delicacy alongside other German baked goods like Stollen and Black Forest cake.
A Leipziger lerche is a sweet German pastry filled with nuts and strawberry jam that is one of the delicacies that Leipzig, Saxony, Germany is known for. Lerche is actually German for “lark,” from which pies were originally made, before bird hunting was banned. Sweets usually have a pastry cross on the lid.
In 18th-century Leipzig, Leipziger lerche was a sought-after delicacy, made from larks caught near the Elster River, cooked with eggs and spices. It was so sought after that the lark’s population was in danger to the point that the King of Saxony banned the pastry entirely. At this point, some bakers decided to devise an equivalent dessert, and the Leipziger lerche as it is known was created.
There are a number of variants of the Leipziger high school but they all share a shortcrust pastry made with butter, flour, salt, sugar and water. The filling is made from almonds and other nuts, which are usually ground and mixed with eggs, sugar, butter and rum. Again, variations on the recipe have been developed and differ from chef to chef. A spoonful of jam or a cherry is placed in the centre, before filling the pastry cups with the nut mixture. This represents the lark’s heart.
The last step before baking is placing the dough cross on top of the dough lid. The name Leipziger lerche has been protected by the Saxonian Bakery Guild since 2004. Many bakeries in Leipzig still follow the traditional recipe for this sweet delicacy.
Germany is famous for its delicious range of baked goods. One of the most famous is Stollen, made around Christmas time. This is usually shaped like a loaf and contains nuts, candied and dried fruit. The cake is then sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Another lighter but richer German delicacy is Black Forest cake, which is a layered chocolate cake with cream and cherries. The cake can be soaked in alcohol such as cherry liqueur. In German it is known as Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte and is decorated with whipped cream, cherries and chocolate chips.
Visitors to Leipzig still flock to the local bakeries which makes the Leipziger experience not only the taste but also the tradition. Seated at a sidewalk table with coffee and a Leipziger Lerche, locals and tourists alike can watch the world go by. Many feel that the sweet treat surpasses its original, meaty flavor.
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