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Grittibänz - The Swiss classic

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Grittibänz

Grittibänz are delicious yeast buns that are traditionally baked in the run-up to Christmas. In principle, it is a simple yeast dough that can also be used to make a plait. The little men can be decorated according to your own creativity. Simply use scraps of dough to make hands, shoes, hats, scarves or other accessories. Before baking, the dough pieces can also be sprinkled with sugar crystals or brittle. We show you how to make and shape the Grittibänz.

As always, you can download the recipe at the end of the article.

Most important key data

Quantity: 6 pieces

Baking time: approx. 15 minutes

Baking temperature: 180 ºC fan oven

Difficulty level: Easy

Shelf life: 3 days

Yeast dough

White flour 500 g
Butter | cold75 g
Salt10 g
Whole milk250 g
Baking malt5 g
Granulated sugar40 g
Yeast | fresh35 g
Whole egg50 g

Yeast dough recipe - production

Place the white flour, butter and salt in a large bowl and rub the pieces of butter between your hands until you only have small crumbs. Now add the yeast and the other ingredients and mix everything in the bowl until you have a dough. Place the dough mixture on your work surface and knead it until it becomes soft and smooth. Put it back into the bowl. Cover the bowl with a proofing cloth and leave to rest at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes.

Moulding Grittibänz

Divide 900 g of the yeast dough into six 100 g pieces for the body and six 50 g pieces for the head. Shape the 100 g pieces for the body into a teardrop shape (10 cm long) and the head pieces should be as round as possible. Now cut the body three times to form the arms and legs.

Place the Grittibänze on a baking tray lined with baking paper and place the head slightly overlapping on the body. You can now use the remaining dough to make the scarf, hat, nose and shoes. For the scarf, you can roll out a thin strand of dough, place it around the head and then twist the strand (as shown in the photo) and press it onto the side of the little man.

Use the rest of the dough to make feet and a hat or belt. There are really no limits to your creativity. For the hat, wrap a thin strand around the head and place a small bobble on top. Do the same for the feet. Then cover the Grittibänze with dough plastic and leave to rise at room temperature for approx. 40 minutes.

Towards the end of the resting time, you can preheat the oven to 180 ºC fan oven.

After the resting time, brush the Grittibänze twice with egg. (Mix one whole egg with one egg yolk).

For the eyes, press two sultanas (or baking-safe chocolate drops) deep into the dough and cut the mouth with sharp scissors. You can also sprinkle the Gritibänze with a little granulated sugar.

Then place the yeast men in the oven preheated to 180 ºC fan oven for approx. 12 to 15 minutes and bake until golden brown.

Browse through our blog and discover more delicious recipes.

Storage & shelf life

Store the ready-made yeast men in an airtight container at room temperature. Of course, they taste best fresh, but you can store them for up to three days. After that, they will simply dry out.

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Posted in: Sweet recipes, Cakes and pastries

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