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Leipziger Lerchen - Leipzig Larks


© 2026 | http://angiesrecipes.blogspot.com




© 2026 | http://angiesrecipes.blogspot.com


Leipziger Lerchen (Lerchen means larks in German) are a small shortcrust pastry filled with nuts and strawberry jam. The pastry cross on top symbolize the cross ties used to bind the stuffed animals and red berry jam symbolize either the heart or the blood of the bird. The name originates from a delicacy popular in the Leipzig, Germany until the 1870s. The dish used the lark which was roasted with herbs and eggs and served as a filling in a pastry crust. By the end of the 19th century, however, the larks population had so decreased that the shooting of larks was officially banned. A clever confectioner from Leipzig had the idea of helping preserve the larks by creating a new, sweet version of Leipziger Lerchen filled with nut cream and jam. He and his team consoled the saddened gourmets with this sweet treat, which has survived to this day. In addition to original Leipziger Lerchen, you can also find Lerchen made with different nuts and jams in bakeries.

 
Shortcrust PastryFilling
  • 250 g Plain flour
  • 125 g Unsalted butter, diced, and kept cool in the fridge
  • 50 g Erythritol or sugar
  • 1 pinch Sea salt
  • 1 Medium egg
  • 1 tsp Brandy
  • 4 Medium eggs
  • 120 g Erythritol or fine sugar
  • 125 g Unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 tbsp Plain flour
  • 1 tbsp Cornstarch
  • 200 g Ground almonds
  • A few drops Bitter almond extract
  • 150 g Jam of your choice
  1. For the shortcrust pastry, sift the plain flour into a large bowl. Add in butter. Using your fingertips, lightly rub the butter into the flour until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Stir in the erythritol or sugar and salt. Beat the egg and brandy together. Using a table knife, stir in the beaten egg mixture to make a rough dough, then turn out onto a lightly floured board and bring together into a ball. Wrap the dough in cling film and chill for 30 minutes.
  2. For the filling, separate one egg and set aside the yolk. Cream the butter and erythritol or sugar together. Add the egg white and the remaining 3 eggs and beat until fluffy. Add the flour, cornstarch, ground almonds and bitter almond extract and stir everything until combined.
  3. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Lightly brush 11-12, tartlet forms (6 cm in diameter) with little softened butter.
  4. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured work surface to a thickness of 4 mm and cut out 11-12 circles, roughly 9 cm in diameter. Form the remaining dough into a ball, roll it out and cut it into 6 cm long and 0.5 cm wide strips.
  5. Press the dough circles into the greased tartlet forms and fill each one with 1 teaspoon of jam. Spoon the filling on top of the jam, then place the prepared strips of dough in a cross pattern on top of the filling.
  6. Whisk the reserved egg yolk and brush the cross. Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for about 30 minutes until golden brown. Remove the Leipziger Lerchen from the oven and leave to cool briefly. Remove from the forms and leave to cool completely on a wire rack.

© 2026 | http://angiesrecipes.blogspot.com



© 2026 | http://angiesrecipes.blogspot.com




26 comments:

Tom 12/3/26 13:27

...Angie, thanks for sharing this new treat with me!

[Reply]
Lola Martínez 12/3/26 14:02

De esta receta me gusta hasta el nombre, que rica debe estar, además los platos que llevan historias implícitas me gustan aún más.

[Reply]
DEZMOND 12/3/26 15:18

Oh, these are very cute und pretty, thanks for the step by step part, it is always fun seeing the process.

[Reply]
eileeninmd 12/3/26 16:10

They do look like cute treats! Thanks for sharing.
Take care, enjoy your day!

[Reply]
Brian's Home Blog 12/3/26 17:44

Those are sure pretty and I would like all that nutty goodness in there!

[Reply]
Anne in the kitchen 12/3/26 18:15

These sound and look delicious. If I am feeling ambitious one day I would like to try these.

[Reply]
David Scott Allen 12/3/26 23:36

I love the story of how they came to be. and must admit I like the dessert version a lot, as the larks would probably have had tiny little bones which would drive me crazy!

[Reply]
J.P. Alexander 12/3/26 23:52

Gracias por la receta. Te mando un beso.

[Reply]
My name is Erika. 13/3/26 01:17

These looks tasty. What an interesting combo, but it's a good one. Plus they are cute little pastries too.

[Reply]
Anonymous 13/3/26 04:48

Such a pretty pastry even though it's origin is not born out of anything so pretty!
Tandy (Lavender and Lime) https://tandysinclair.com

[Reply]
Ruby Rose and the Big Little Angels 3 13/3/26 05:47

They look like a Master Chef challenge no one can master.

[Reply]
DeniseinVA 13/3/26 06:53

I enjoyed their history and they must be delicious!

[Reply]
Sherry's Pickings 13/3/26 10:09

i do enjoy almond extract! such cute looking sweets.

[Reply]
Margaret D 13/3/26 10:17

How interesting and never heard of those, Angie. Look good.

[Reply]
David M. Gascoigne, 13/3/26 10:50

They look so perfect and I bet they taste even better.

[Reply]
ellie 13/3/26 12:22

Such a spring delight! Beautiful post!

[Reply]
Caitlin&Megan 13/3/26 12:22

Great to see this recipe. So delightful!

[Reply]
Ananka 13/3/26 13:17

These look so good, nice with a coffee I bet! :-D

[Reply]
Breathtaking 13/3/26 14:58

Hello Angie :)
A mid morning cup of coffee with one of these delicious nutty flavoured treats
would be really yummy.

[Reply]
Pattie Tierney 13/3/26 17:16

How interesting! I love learning about foods that are outside my realm. I’ve never heard of these before, but they sound really tasty, and they’re lovely to look at.

[Reply]
Ben | Havocinthekitchen 15/3/26 00:24

They look stunning, Angie! Such elegant little pastries - the lattice on top makes them especially beautiful.

[Reply]
foodtravelandwine 16/3/26 01:12

I can't wait to try it!...it looks delicious!!........Abrazotes, Marcela

[Reply]


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