On an early spring break in the province of Zeeland I came across a mold for making ‘Hernhutterjes’. These are a type of old Dutch cookies, or so we believe in Holland. You can see the shape in the picture. But I do not know why they have this shape or why they are named after Hernhutters. I can find no information on the connection between the cookies and the Hernhutters. Hernhutters are also called Moravian Brothers (Brethren).
A ”Moravian” is a Protestant belonging to a religious movement that originated in Moravia, Czech Republic. This was brought to the United States in the early 1700s by immigrants originating from settlements on the estates of Count Nicolas Ludwig von Zinzendorf in what is now Germany. The original attempt to found a Moravian community was in Georgia, but that attempt failed. The Moravians later found a home in Pennsylvania, where the colony provided some of the greatest religious freedom to be found in the world. It would be interesting to find out the connection between the Hernhutters and the cookies. The cookies are very easy to make and deliciously buttery and sandy.
Ingredients for the original Hernhuttertjes
makes approximately 40 cookies
240 g pastry flour
180 g soft dairy butter
120 g sugar
pinch of salt
Preheat the oven at 170º C. Put all the ingredients in a bowl and make a dough. Put the dough in the moulds and bake for about 25 minutes. Let cool on a rack. It’s that simple.
Just make sure your ingredients are fresh and of high quality! I prefer organic flour because it has much more flavour. There’s much difference in quality and freshness of flour. Try different types and brands and always look at the date on the package. Buy as fresh as possible. In Holland we have several mills that sell freshly milled flour. Like ‘De Zandhaas’ in Santpoort and ‘De Aeolus’ in Vlaardingen.
i have a dutch friend telling me about the hernhutters in zeist holland i am very interested in this part of holland her grandmother came from there😆
Hi Karen,
It seems that from Saksen (where on the estate of Count Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf people founded the Herrnhut colonie in 1722) in Germany, some Hernhutters came to Holland to be able to evangelize Indonesia (Dutch colonized ‘Indië’). In 1745 Hernhutters were granted permission to live in the gardens of Slot Zeist (Slot is a type of castle).
Absolutely ADORE these cookies. I am working my way through your recipes and this one is a keeper. Found the “twist” with the ground almonds very nice too. Really appreciate all you are doing!
Hi Lesley,
Thank you so much and how wonderful you are trying so many recipes. As for cookies, we recently posted a recipe for our most indulgent cookie, which we can highly recommend giving a try (just do not count the calories).
Happy baking from Holland,
Marieke & Ed
They’re on my list! We have winter in the Southern Hemisphere at the moment & I tried the Brownies with drunken cherries – Wonderful, deeply chocolatey flavour and not too sweet. Really, really good!
Great Lesley, summer over here as you know, but baking wise winter has so many advantages!
Enjoy the seasons,
Marieke
PS: Glad you mention the not too sweet, because that was also the intention…
I have a recipe for these from an old Dutch lady I used to visit in the seventies. She called them Hernhutters, but her recipe included ground almonds and almond essence, and hers were made in a flat tin (7in by 7in) then cut into squares. They are delicious and have a moist, chewy texture. Recipe – 4oz butter, 3 1/2oz sugar, 4oz flour, 1 1/2oz ground almonds, almond essence.
Hello Jos,
What a great story! And thank you so much for sharing the recipe! It does not sound familiar but equally delicious. I love the taste of almond in a cookie so I sure will try them!
Marieke
I was looking for a recipy of making hernhutters because I fund this little moulds again in my old stuff during my movement to a
other house. I was around 12 years old when I maked these cookies for nabers and family because of I would became a baker.
My moulds do have a flat bothom (top)
Hoi Martin,
So nice to hear your story. I see that you have become an ice cream man instead of a baker. That is so cool!
Hope your mold is still in good order and you can make some cookies too.
Thanks Nico,
I am going to record that! A Moravian hat? That seems a very plausible explanation. This enigma will be solved….
Hi Marieke,
have done some research on the connection between hernhuttertjes and the Hernhutter movement, but that hasn’t led to a definitive answer. The closest I got is that the origin of the cookie is in the east of the Dutch province of Utrecht, around the city of Zeist – which also happens to be the city in which most of the Hernhutters settled. No idea why they have that particular shape, though – a Moravian hat?
However, I saw that Dutch TV is running a series on local sights and customs, and on April 2nd the program on Utrecht will also look into this Hernhutter enigma. Don’t know how much (mis)information that program will bring, but it might be worth checking out…
www.teleac.nl/pagin...p?n=965287
Hi Tiina,
Thanks! It’s always such a pleasure to find these special moulds, utensils, bake ware etc in little cooking shops or getting them as a gift.
Have fun with the baking!
Your cookies look really beautiful. And the recipe is just to my liking, so simple! I think, I will have to try this recipe, eventhough I do not have such beautiful moulds for the cookies.
Hi Anya,
Great the Goudse moppen were a hit! I am not sure about the Hernhutters in ball shape. I have never tried it, but I always say..if the ingredients are great together, even if they don’t look the part, they will still taste OK.
Greetings from rainy Holland
Never heard of Hernhutter cookies before. Want to give it a try and bake them, though I don’t own a special mold for them. Would that count if I simply shape small balls from a dough?
BTW, I made the Goudsen Moppen the other day. They turned so great, I’m in love! 🙂