I'm a Krapfen,You're a Krapfen... Wouldn't you like to be a Krapfen too?

A lot of my friends have asked me what sweets and other junk food I miss and can't seem to get in Germany. There is certainly no shortage of junk food available here and some of it is quite good. But when one is craving a particular food from home, that is what is wanted... not a substitute, but the real thing. One example of this is boxed cake mix. Yes, even the mere mention of using a "boxed" cake mix of any kid makes REAL German Hausfrauen shudder. But remember I'm not a REAL German Hausfrau and dang it, I enjoy my good old Duncan Hines Chocolate Cake mix. Now, there ARE a few stores here that carry these mixes, although they are over 5 Euro a pop. Then again, when you're jonesin' for a moist D.H. cake, you'll pay the stiff price. Don't get me wrong- German cakes taste fine. But when you're feeling a bit lonesome and craving things from back home, you want well... those EXACT things from back home.

Here's another...

Donuts. Okay, now before all you people give me grief about this, let me assure you there are plenty of other yummy things in Germany. Though different from back home, they have their own charm. For example, while they don't have traditional donuts (as in something you'd be able to purchase from a Dunkin Donuts or Winchell's chain), they have their own donut-like creations here which are equally yummy. One example of this is the Krapfen (pronounced as you'd imagine- CRAP-FEN). Yes, I get a kick out of the name, too. It is hard to order a Krapfen without succumbing to my internal 11 year old immature side, as I snicker to myself just saying the word out loud. Still, even though the name can be a bit off-putting and may elicit some smirks from Americans, these little treats can be quite tasty. I say, "CAN be quite tasty" because there is certainly no shortage of Krapfen varieties available this time of year, and some of them are a bit odd.

It's Fasching season now. What is Fasching, you say? Think Mardi Gras, only omit the beads and topless women. LOL! The Germans may let loose this time of year, but I've yet to see a gaggle of drunken ladies parading around topless in order to get beads. The most I've heard of is "Women's Carnival", where women run around cutting ties off the men and kissing any man they like. So Fasching is an interesting little celebration here that seems to be a blend of pagan ritual and Christian tradition, which I suppose is how most holidays end up.

Fasching is what Karneval is called here in Bavaria and in parts of Austria. Many parties involving parades, drinking, lewd behavior and costumes are part of the Karneval/Fasching experience. (And you thought Oktoberfest was outrageous!) In Köln's Rosenmontag parade, people spend a ton of effort creating elaborate floats. As the floats pass by, the costumed people on board pelt the street crowd with candy and sweets as they sing traditional Karneval songs.

A pagan ritual still observed in Karneval include dressing in ugly masks to drive out the evil spirits of winter and encourage the coming of spring and good crops. The festivals associated with the Christian church involve wild partying before Lent and fasting begins. In the Middle Ages, Karneval festivals allowed commoners to poke fun at the aristocracy and government while hiding behind imaginative masks and costumes.

Apparently, in pre-Christian Europe it was customary to choose a man to be the "sacred king" of the tribe for a year. When his year in office was up he would be sacrificed and his blood returned to the soil to ensure a successful harvest. The method of choosing the sacred king was the King's Cake. A coin or bean would be placed in the cake before baking and whomever got the slice with the coin was the chosen one. These filled cakes have evolved into the filled donuts we are familiar with today.

While Krapfen are offered year round, during Fasching the variety of Krapfen are ramped up to include a ton of different flavors, some even bizarre. Traditionally, you'd find apricot, vanilla, or chocolate filled Krapfen, but such interesting flavors as champagne, sour cherry with vodka, marzipan, raspberry & mascarpone, Bailey's, and a variety of of other fruits are available during Fasching.

A more traditonal looking Krapfen

More festive-looking Krapfen offered during Fasching

I encourage those of you interested in this, or other crazy German festivals to visit with us during our time in Germany. However, for those of you who cannot make it out here, yet still wish to try Krapfen, I've included a recipe to indulge your inner domestic goddess. (This is for you, Gerb! I expect to hear how they turned out.) I have not yet tried the recipe myself and I take no responsibility for its success, but have fun with it. Try spicing it up and mixing in some other fillings. :)

Krapfen

Ingredients:	500 g flour
	1 pack of baker`s yeast
	1/8 l milk
	80 g butter
	100 g sugar
	the zest of ½ lemon
	jam as stuffing
	confectioner`s sugar

• mix flour with yeast
• add remaining ingredients to flour and yeast (they should be lukewarm)
• let the dough rise
• roll out
• cut out round slices with a glass ( diameter: ca. 7-8 cm)
• you need two slices for one Krapfen, put jam in the middle of the first one, put second slice on it
• press the rims firmly together (with a glass)
• let it rise
• fry the Krapfen in hot frying fat (not salted), the fat is hot enough, when a small piece of dough swims on the surface after throwing it into the fat
• sprinkle the Krapfen with confectioner`s sugar

So yes, while I will indulge in Krapfen and all sorts of other sweets while here, I still miss my good ole (disgustingly sweet) Krispy Kreme donut, warm and fresh off the conveyer belt. YUM!

Freshly glazed warm Krispy Kreme donuts