 | |
| Alternative names | Schneeballen |
|---|---|
| Type | Pastry |
| Place of origin | Germany |
| Main ingredients | flour,eggs,sugar,butter,cream,plum schnaps |
ASchneeball (German:[ˈʃneːˌbal]ⓘ) orSchneeballen (plural:Schneebälle (German:[ˈʃneːˌbɛlə]ⓘ) andSchneeballen respectively), snowball inEnglish, is a deep-friedpastry made fromshortcrust pastry especially popular in the area ofRothenburg ob der Tauber. Its name derives from its round, ball-like shape, its diameter of about eight to ten centimeters, and its traditional decoration with whiteconfectioner's sugar. It is also known as aStorchennest (pronounced[ˈʃtɔʁçn̩ˌnɛst]ⓘstork's nest).[1]
This kind of pastry has been known for at least 400 years in the regions ofFranconia and Hohenlohe (northeast of Baden-Württemberg) where it is very popular. Served only on special occasions such as weddings in the past; they are nowadays available throughout the year and can be found aroundRothenburg ob der Tauber inbakeries, pastry shops, andcafes.[1] In the town itself there are even companies that specialize in the pastry, constantly coming out with new variations. Beside the classical ones dusted with confectioner's sugar, there are recipes glazed with chocolate and nuts or filled withmarzipan. As the pastry is considered the signature dish of the town, it is a very commonsouvenir.
The main ingredients areflour,eggs,sugar,butter,cream, andplum schnaps.
To give it the characteristic shape, the dough is rolled out and cut into even strips with a dough cutter. The strips are then arranged alternately over and under a stick, or the handle of a wooden spoon. Eventually the stick is lifted and slowly removed while the dough strips are formed into a loose ball. Using a special round holder called aSchneeballeneisen in order to retain the shape, the ball is deep-fried in boiling fat until golden brown, and finally dusted with confectioner's sugar while warm.
The schneeball is a dry, cookie-like pastry, so it has a long shelf life - about eight weeks without refrigeration.
