Punschkrapfen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Punschkrapfen

Alternative names	Punschkrapferl
Type	Pastry
Place of origin	Austria
Main ingredients	Cake crumbs, nougat chocolate, apricot jam, rum

Punschkrapfen (say "POONSH-krap-fen") is a super yummy and colorful pastry from Austria. It's also sometimes called Punschkrapferl. This small cake is filled with sweet nougat and tasty apricot jam. What makes it special is that the cake is soaked in rum, giving it a unique flavor! It's a bit like the French "petit four," which are tiny, fancy cakes.

You can find Punschkrapfen in most pastry shops and bakeries in Austria and the Czech Republic today. It's a very popular treat!

What's Inside a Punschkrapfen?

Punschkrapfen is made from soft sponge cake or sometimes even cake crumbs. Inside, you'll find a delicious mix of nougat chocolate and sweet apricot jam. The cake layers are soaked with rum, which gives them a special taste.

The cake is usually cut into small square shapes, about 1 and a half inches wide. Then, it's covered with a bright pink icing called Punschglasur (punch icing). This is a thick, sugary glaze that also has rum in it. Often, it's decorated with a drizzle of chocolate and a cocktail cherry on top. Sometimes, you might even find Punschkrapfen in a round, cylindrical shape!

The History of Punschkrapfen

No one is completely sure who first made the Punschkrapfen or exactly where it came from. There are a few different ideas about its history.

Some people think it might have been brought to Vienna, Austria, a very long time ago in the Middle Ages. Another idea is that it came to Vienna with the Ottoman armies during the Second Turkish Siege. It's also possible that a special baker who worked for the royal court invented this tasty dessert.

Fun Facts About Punschkrapfen

A writer named Robert Menasse once jokingly suggested that the Punschkrapfen should become the official symbol of Austria. He was being funny, but it shows how much this little cake means to Austrian culture!