The Best Easter Cookie You’ve Never Had

Known aliases: Springerle Mold, Springerle Mould, Springerle Cookies / Swiss Krabel / Spekulatius / Speculaas

The Back-Story:

On the heels of our biscuit vs. biscuit discussion, this week on TheBaker.com, we’re featuring one of our favorite type of cookies … The German Springerle cookie, or better yet the wooden cookie mold that will allow you to bake your own Springerle cookie! After all, you’re the baker, right? So what exactly is a Springerle cookie? Unless you’ve been gifted with family bakers from the German old country, you might not know about this very unique type of cookie that – as one would expect – has a variety of “histories!”

First off, even the name “Springerle” seems to be in dispute among some. There are those who say the cookie’s name literally means “jumper” or “little knight” to denote the oft-pictured knights jumping on horses in many mold types. Others comment that Springerle merely calls to memory the action of the cookie “springing” up after baking due to it’s mold impression and the leavening agent used to bake this type of cookie. What’s not in dispute is that the Springerle cookie has been around for centuries … fueling many a Christmas holiday, baked as wedding tokens, and some culinary historians even suggest the Springerle cookie was invented because when old Germanic tribes were taken to animal sacrifice, those without the means to kill off their lifestock sacrificed these cookies instead! Well, while others might wish to partake in debating the origin of this historic cookie and their companion folk-art wooden cookie molds, we’re mostly interested in just eating them, because these cookies taste amazing. AND they taste like no other cookie you’ve had – we promise.

Reason being, the Springerle cookie is made with powdered sugar (not granulated!), baker’s ammonia (as a leavening agent!), and egg whites commonly beaten till dry (when’s the last time you saw a recipe calling for egg whites beat to death!?), then the real beauty of an ingredient … anise! The result though is pure tasty goodness, and one that finds a home in the type of beautifully carved resin replica we’re featuring this week on TheBaker.com. The molds themselves are tremendous keepsakes to be handed down from generation to generation.

Why we like this particular model:

Well, for one, Easter is right around the corner, so what better treat to give your family than something they’ve either never had before, or haven’t had since last year (if you’re one of those lucky Springerle families!) Of course, the beauty of this particular wooden cookie mold is another thing altogether, and other than creating beautiful cookies, these Springerle Molds are also great for decorating the walls of your kitchen. That way, they’re also within close reach when you get that craving for an anise-flavored Springerle cookie!

Like my dad always told me, “It’s all about having the right tool for the right job.” That’s what The Baker’s Dozen is all about!

The technical stuff:

Made in the U.S.A.
Makes beautiful, well-defined cookies.
The length of the egg is three inches long.
The original wooden mold suffered damage visible on this exact replica.
Actual Size: 3 1/2″ × 5″

Ric Rac Rabbit Wooden Springerle Cookie Mold

5% of your purchase supports local community kitchen programs!

$29.00 $38.00