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The Dutch letter (also referred to as banket letter,
almond letter, butter letter,
and in
Dutch
Dutch commonly refers to:
* Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands
* Dutch people ()
* Dutch language ()
Dutch may also refer to:
Places
* Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States
* Pennsylvania Dutch Country
People E ...
as ''banketstaaf'', ''banketletter'', ''boterletter'', and ''letterbanket'') is a type of
pastry
Pastry is baked food made with a dough of flour, water and shortening (solid fats, including butter or lard) that may be savoury or sweetened. Sweetened pastries are often described as '' bakers' confectionery''. The word "pastries" sugges ...
that is typically prepared using a mixture of flour, eggs and butter or
puff pastry
Puff pastry, also known as ', is a flaky light pastry made from a laminated dough composed of dough (') and butter or other solid fat ('). The butter is put inside the dough (or vice versa), making a ' that is repeatedly folded and rolled out befo ...
as its base and filled with
almond paste
Almond paste is made from ground almonds or almond meal and sugar in equal quantities, with small amounts of cooking oil, beaten eggs, heavy cream or corn syrup added as a binder. It is similar to ''marzipan'', but has a coarser texture. Almond pas ...
(or
persipan
Persipan (from ''Persicus'' (peach) and ''marzipan''; also known as Parzipan) is a material used in confectionery. It is similar to marzipan but, instead of almonds, is made with apricot or peach kernels. Persipan consists of 40% ground kernels ...
), dusted with sugar and shaped in an "S" or other letter shape.
Marzipan, an almond paste prepared with
almond meal
Almond meal, almond flour or ground almond is made from ground sweet almonds. Almond flour is usually made with blanched almonds (no skin), whereas almond meal can be made with whole or blanched almonds. The consistency is more like corn meal th ...
and honey or sugar, is sometimes used as the filling.
The Dutch letter has a porous or airy and flaky texture.
The pastry was originally shaped "into the initial of the family's surname."
Nowadays, the most common shape of the food in the United States is as the letter "S".
Dutch letters are served as a treat during December, and particularly on ''
Sinterklaasavond'' on December 5 in
the Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
,
and during some festivals in the United States.
Etymology
The pastry's name is a shortened version of the
Dutch
Dutch commonly refers to:
* Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands
* Dutch people ()
* Dutch language ()
Dutch may also refer to:
Places
* Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States
* Pennsylvania Dutch Country
People E ...
word ''banketletter''.
They may also be called ''banketstaven'', ''boterletters'', and ''letterbanket'' by
Dutch people
The Dutch ( Dutch: ) are an ethnic group and nation native to the Netherlands. They share a common history and culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Aru ...
.
History
Netherlands
In
the Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
''letterbanket'' are traditionally eaten on ''
Sinterklaasavond'' on December 5, where they are shaped in the initials of family members.
United States
Iowa
Dutch letters were introduced to the United States by Dutch immigrants,
and originated in
Pella, Iowa
Pella is a city in Marion County, Iowa, Marion County, Iowa, United States, with a population of 10,464 at the time of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 U.S. Census. Founded by immigrants from the Netherlands, it is forty miles southeast of Des ...
, which was founded in 1845 by "Dutch religious refugees."
Dutch letters are a common treat at the annual
Tulip Festival
Tulip festivals are held in several cities around the world, mostly in North America, usually in cities with a Dutch heritage such as Albany, New York, Ottawa, Ontario; Gatineau, Quebec; Montreal, Quebec; Holland, Michigan; Lehi, Utah; Orange ...
in Pella, Iowa, and may be prepared by local residents and sold at markets, gas stations, and various local churches. They are sold year round at Dutch bakeries.
Michigan
Dutch letters prepared with chocolate are traditionally eaten as part of the activities during the Holland Dutch Winterfest in
Holland, Michigan
Holland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River (formerly known locally as the Black Ri ...
.
See also
*
Dutch cuisine
Dutch cuisine ( nl, Nederlandse keuken) is formed from the cooking traditions and practices of the Netherlands. The country's cuisine is shaped by its location in the fertile North Sea river delta of the European Plain, giving rise to fishing, ...
*
List of pastries
This is a list of pastries, which are small buns made using a stiff dough enriched with fat. Some dishes, such as pies, are made of a pastry casing that covers or completely contains a filling of various sweet or savory ingredients.
There are fi ...
*
Banket (pastry)
References
{{pastries
Cookies
Dutch-American culture in Iowa
Dutch-American culture in Michigan
Dutch pastries
Almond cookies