Hexenhaus

This is the high point of German Christmas baking.  It’s every child’s dream to have one of these.  Hexenhaus is the German word for “witch’s house”, because the house is that of the witch in the fairy-tale Hansel und Gretel.  It’s made of Lebkuchen (gingerbread without any ginger) and decorated with sweets.  Like everything connected…

Zimtsterne

Zimtsterne are cinnamon stars.  I should explain first that a German Christmas without enough special biscuits to sink the Titanic is unthinkable, at least in our family.  I can remember the wonderful smell of baking – cinnamon, lemon, honey, nutmeg and other spices throughout our apartment late at night, when Mum “secretly” produced the delicious…