Catholic Recipe: Nikolaussteifel

Also Called: German Boots of St. Nicholas

This recipe makes a gift for the children; it used to be handed to them on St. Nicholas Day in Germany.

DIRECTIONS

Mix yeast, sugar and milk in a bowl until yeast is dissolved and let it stand for 15 minutes.

Add the flour to the bowl, melt the butter. Add sugar, vanilla, egg, salt, and melted butter to the flour. Work to a smooth dough first by stirring, then kneading. Put in a warm place until doubled in bulk.

In the meantime take some cardboard and cut a template for a boot about 14 inches (40 cm) high. Roll out the dough about 1/2-inch (1 cm) thick in the shape of an L. Put the template on top and cut the dough into the shape of the boot. Transfer the boot to a greased baking sheet.

Make the egg wash by mixing the egg yolk and milk. Brush the boot with the egg wash. Shape the rest of the dough into the rim and heel of a boot and put on top. Brush again with egg wash and put on the seeds, almonds or nuts.

Preheat oven to 400º F. and bake the boot about 25 minutes until golden brown.

After it is cool, you may want to decorate the boot further by mixing some powdered sugar with water and sticking on extra sweets.