Banket (pastry) facts for kids
 |
|
| Course | Dessert |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Netherlands |
| Serving temperature | Hot or cold |
| Main ingredients |
|
| Variations | Dutch letters |
Banket (say "bahn-KET") is a delicious, sweet pastry that comes from the Netherlands. It's famous for its yummy filling of almond paste. You can find Banket in different shapes and sizes.
Sometimes it's made as long bars, which people call almond rolls or almond patties. In Dutch, these are known as banketstaven. Another popular type is shaped like letters, often called Dutch letters or almond letters. In Dutch, these are banketletter or boterletter. You might also see them as individual banket or almond patties.
Contents
What is Banket?
Banket is a special treat with a flaky, airy pastry outside. Inside, it has a rich, dense almond paste filling. It's a popular dessert that can be enjoyed warm or cold.
How is Banket Made?
To make Banket, bakers roll out a thin sheet of pastry dough. This dough is usually made from flour, eggs, and butter. Sometimes, they use puff pastry for an extra flaky texture.
Next, they spread a sweet almond paste filling onto the dough. This paste is often made from ground almonds mixed with sugar or honey. Sometimes, a similar almond paste called marzipan is used.
The dough is then carefully rolled around the almond filling. After shaping, the pastry is baked until it's golden brown. Finally, it's often dusted with a little sugar on top.
Different Shapes of Banket
One common way to make Banket is to roll it into a long log, about one or two feet long. After baking, this log is cut into smaller pieces for serving. These pieces can be eaten right away or even frozen to enjoy later.
The "Dutch letter" is another famous shape. The pastry is rolled and then carefully shaped into a letter of the alphabet. Long ago, families would get a letter shaped like the first letter of their last name. Today, the letter S is the most common shape you'll find.
When Do People Eat Banket?
In the Netherlands, and in communities with Dutch roots in the Midwestern United States, Banket is especially popular during the Christmas season. People often enjoy it around December 5th, which is Sinterklaasavond (Saint Nicholas Eve).
It's also a favorite treat at Dutch festivals held in the United States. For example, at the annual Tulip Festival in Pella, Iowa, Dutch letters are a very common and loved snack.
Banket's Journey: From Netherlands to USA
Banket has a long history, especially in the Netherlands. It made its way to the United States with Dutch immigrants.
Banket in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, banketletter pastries are a traditional part of Sinterklaasavond on December 5th. During this celebration, people often give each other banketletter shaped like the first letter of a family member's name. It's a sweet way to celebrate the holiday.
Banket in the United States
Dutch immigrants brought the tradition of Banket to the United States in the 1800s. They settled in places like Pella, Iowa, Orange City, Iowa, and Holland, Michigan. These towns were founded by Dutch people seeking new homes.
Today, Dutch letters are a well-loved treat in these communities. At the annual Tulip Festival in Pella, Iowa, you can often find local residents and churches baking and selling these delicious pastries. It's a tasty reminder of their Dutch heritage.
.jpg)
