Berliner ( homemade)

Who does not know or has not tasted Germany’s Berliner. These are mainly baked during the Carnival season. I was happy when I found this recipe in a cookbook and of course it has to be shared. Its time consuming but they taste so great. Have fun…

Ingredients:

• 4 1/8 cup and 1 teaspoon non-rising all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup fresh yeast
• 1/2cup and 1 teaspoon lukewarm milk
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Oil
• 2 egg yolk
• 1 pinch of salt
• 2 cl rum ( one shot glass)

• Marmelade ( no Jelly) of your choice
  I prefer Plum, Strawberry, or apricot
  of late I buy the marmalade that is smooth and does not
  have fruit bits in it. ( from the brand Schwartau )
• 2 lbs vegetable frying fat or oil ( do not use lard)
• Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions:

1.) sieve the flour into a large bowl, then build a mold in the middle of the flour, crumble yeast into the mold. Now take the lukewarm milk and slowly pour it over the yeast add a bid of the sugar and using some of the surrounding flour using a fork make a pre-dough ( see Picture), cover bowl with a towel and let rest for 15 minutes-

Hint: find a warm non-draft place in your home to let the dough rest,

2.) After the 15 minutes are up, add the 2 Tablespoon oil, Sugar, Egg yolks, salt, and rum and stir to an even smooth batter, the dough is good when it builds bubbles. Cover and let it rest for another 25 min.

3.) on a lightly floured surface roll out dough about an inch thick, using a fancy coffee cup from formal chinaware or a round whiskey glass, cut out cookies.
TIP: leftover dough can be used one more time but you will have to place it in a bowl mix it and let it rest for 10 minutes.
Now using a teaspoon and the marmalade of your choice, place a teaspoon marmalade in the middle of the cookie, fold the dough over the marmalade, pinch it gently together, then flip the ball with the folded side upside down. Then cover them with a towel and let rest for another 15 minutes.
4.) In a deep-fryer or a large pot on the stove heat up 2 lbs vegetable frying fat or oil to a temperature of no more the 350F.
5.) Once the temperature has been reached and the Berliner Balls have rested, place Ball on a spoon with the folded side facing you or facing up, and gently place into oil let fry for 3-4 minutes then gently turn and let the other side fry for the same amount of time. They should be golden brown on both sides.
Remove, and place the balls on Paperkitchen towels to let the access oil
drain and to let them Cool.
While they are still warm ( not hot ) sieve powder Sugar on top.

Enjoy …