Weckmann (St Martin's bread man) made with quark and oil dough

Weckmann for St Martin's Day made from a quark and oil dough with spelt flour, low-fat quark, olive oil and honey, with raisins for eyes. Yeast-free and ready in 45 minutes – a family-friendly breakfast.

At a glance

• Serves 8
• Prep time: 25 min
• Cooking time: 20 min
• Total time: 45 min
• Calories: 345 kcal per serving
• Protein: 12 g
• Fat: 12 g
• Carbs: 47 g

Ingredients

• 250g low-fat quark
• 100ml milk
• 80ml olive oil
• 1 egg
• 70g honey
• 400g spelt flour
• 40g raisins
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 sachet baking powder

Method

You’ll need: oven · chopping board · knife

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C (160 °C fan) and line two baking trays with baking paper.
2. Whisk the low-fat quark, all but one tablespoon of the milk, the olive oil, egg, honey and salt until smooth.
3. Mix the spelt flour and baking powder and quickly knead both into the quark mixture until you have a smooth, slightly sticky dough.
4. Divide the dough into 8 pieces and shape flat figures 15 cm long: cut in arms and legs with a knife and pull them apart slightly. Press in raisins as eyes and buttons.
5. Whisk the egg yolk with the remaining milk and brush the bread men with it.
6. Bake them at 180 °C for 18 to 20 minutes until golden brown, and leave them to cool on a wire rack.

Good to know

In the Rhineland, a Weckmann is part of the St Martin's lantern procession; elsewhere it's called Stutenkerl or Klausenmann. This one needs no yeast: the quark and oil dough is kneaded in 10 minutes and needs no rising time. Raisins become eyes and buttons.

Swaps

Low-fat quark → skyr. Honey → maple syrup. Raisins → hazelnuts (for eyes and buttons). Spelt flour → plain flour.

Cooking tips

Only knead the dough briefly, otherwise it turns tough. If it sticks, lightly flour your hands and the work surface. Use a mild olive oil, so the dough doesn't taste of it.

Storage

Stays fresh for 2 days in a tin; quark and oil dough tastes best on the day it's baked.

Allergens

Contains gluten (spelt), milk and egg; nut-free. Because of the honey, not suitable for children under 1 year; suitable during pregnancy.