myMEGusta

Spitzbuben, Those Little Rascals

Spitzbuben!

Sometimes things just catch your eye.

The first Spitzbube sighting was in Zermatt, Switzerland, while myMEGusta was agog from just having seen the peak of the Matterhorn overlooking a glacial brook on a cloudy afternoon.

How can you see a cute fellow like this smiley guy and not stop into the bakery to ask about him?

Matterhorn in Zermatt, Switzerland

Known as Spitzbuben, these Swiss cookies pop up all over the country, and the motif is even used in restaurant signage. The funny name ties to the cute, mischievous face, and it means “villain, rogue, scamp, scallywag or rascal.”

Spitzbube Sign Near Interlaken, Switzerland

In context:

“Dieser Spitzbube und mein ungezogener Sohn stopften sich einst mit Melonen aus meinem Garten voll.“

“This scamp and my scapegrace son crept into my garden and gorged themselves on my seed melons one year.”

Relatives of Austrian Linzer cookies, which also contain ground up nuts and some spices, they have a jam filling, usually raspberry or strawberry. Interestingly, their relative, a proper Linzer Torte, much larger, will usually have a fancier lattice top.

Linzer Torte

Swiss bakers* have a lot more fun than do the Germans, who simply make them into little circles. But, they are well known treats in Germany, especially around the holidays.

Recipes are rarely included by myMEGusta, but this one looked particularly simple and tasty, and you don’t have to take their boring design direction. Have fun with the shape, like the Swiss do!

http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Raspberry-Jam-Sandwich-Cookies

*Autocorrect wants Swiss bankers to take on this task.