Kletzenbrot facts for kids

Kletzenbrot is a yummy sweet bread filled with dried fruits. It's especially known for using dried pears, which are called Kletzen in Austria. This special bread is often made during the Advent season, which is the time leading up to Christmas. It's a very popular treat in Tyrol, a region in Austria. Some people even call it Tyrolean Dried Fruit Bread.

Today, Kletzenbrot can be made with many different dried fruits and nuts. You might find walnuts, raisins, currants, dried apples, figs, and prunes inside. Most recipes also add warm spices like cinnamon, cloves, anise, and nutmeg. Sometimes, a little rum is added for extra flavor, but this is usually cooked out.

There are many ways to make Kletzenbrot. It can be a dark brown bread if made with rye flour. It can also be made with whole wheat flour. Sometimes, the dough is mixed right in with the fruit. Other times, the dough forms a coating around the fruit filling.

What's Inside Kletzenbrot?

Modern Kletzenbrot recipes use more than just dried pears. They often include a mix of nuts and dried fruits. You might find raisins, currants, dates, prunes, and figs. This bread is often a "quickbread." This means it uses sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and buttermilk to help it rise quickly. These are mixed with dry ingredients, then the chopped nuts and dried fruits are folded in. Kletzenbrot is often decorated with blanched almonds on top.