As you can see, the Pella Dutch letters are shaped like an "S," but I read last year in the Des Moines Register that the home bakers in Pella actually make Dutch letters in any shape. After all, that is the best part. 13,822 Views. In a small bowl, mix 1 egg with 1 cup cold water and add to flour-butter mixture; stir to form a loose dough. 711 Franklin Street. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured pastry cloth. Iowa Letters: Dutch Immigrants on the American Frontier Johannes Stellingwerff Snippet view - 2004. Bake, rotating baking sheets once halfway through cooking, until golden brown, 30-35 minutes. These traditional pastries are light and airy and are filled with a delicious marzipan filling. Repeat with remaining 3 dough portions and filling. Common terms and phrases. Price $39.00. At Nan’s Nummies we believe that food is one of the greatest pleasures of life. Copyright © 2021 Saveur. Iowa Letters: Dutch Immigrants on the American Frontier. They were a near perfect delicacy, their sole flaw being that they came only in S's, and not as a girl named Katie would have preferred, in K's. HOURS. But it also had practical benefits: Each sweet is constructed from just one piece of dough, making it sturdier than letters with joints. Dutch Letter Box (1 Dozen) Price $45.00. FREE Shipping on All Orders $25+! 844.344.0031 Iowa. I'd never even heard of Dutch letters until I moved to Des Moines, Iowa. Rotate rectangle 90°; repeat rolling and folding technique. Paul Van Patten Dec 2016 . I recently enjoyed these at a 4th of July celebration. Harmon's decision to limit the banketletters to S's was in part to honor the holiday's namesake, says his great granddaughter Kristi Balk, who now runs the bakery. Here's a recipe that will let you make and enjoy them all year round. I, … Before baking, the pastry ropes can be shaped to resemble alphabet letters, although the most common letter … These dutch letter bars are addicting and delicious! These easy almond paste bars taste just like dutch letters, but are a super easy recipe to make. We create desserts that bring back memories of favorite family traditions: luscious cupcakes, fantastic dutch letters and cookies and bars that play such a part of our Midwestern roots. Dutch Letter Cookies??? Repeat with remaining dough strips and filling. From SAVEUR Issue #143 When I was a kid, the winter holiday meant a 20-hour drive from my family's home in the Carolinas to my grandmother's in Des Moines, Iowa. Dutch Country General Store is home to country vintage style, shop Mennonite & Amish made quilts, Rada Cutlery, reclaimed wood furniture, bulk candy & more! Des Moines Register. My husband request these as he spent time out in Pella, Iowa freqently before we were married and discovered them in the Jaarsma Bakery on the square. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, beat almond paste and 1 egg white on medium-high speed of a hand mixer until smooth. Jeff Wichhart. 711 Franklin Street. Van Hemert’s Dutch Oven Bakery is located in Boone (605 Story St., Boone, IA 50036) and Ames (219 Duff Ave., Ames, IA 50010). Wrap dough with plastic wrap and chill 1 hour. Even in this current computer age, lot’s of letters are still written on paper… Either handwritten or printed. Iowa Letters: Dutch Immigrants On The American Frontier (Historical Series of the Reformed Church in America (HSRCA)) [Johan Stellingwerff, Robert P. Swierenga] on Amazon.com. Dutch Strip Same as the Dutch Letter, only half the size. A Bonnier Corporation Company. Quick View. Among the spice cookies and butter cakes at this family-owned shop was my favorite treat: the Dutch Letter. Fold up the 2 short sides of rectangle so they meet in middle, and then fold dough like a book. Knead the dough 10 times by pressing and pushing dough together to form a rough-looking ball, lifting pastry … Creme Horns Filled with our own Holland creme. ... Iowa with her amazing husband, three girls, three … Dutch Letters. So, I have not been to the actual store yet, however I have purchased the Dutch Letters at a local market near me several times. When I was a kid, the winter holiday meant a 20-hour drive from my family's home in the Carolinas to my grandmother's in Des Moines, Iowa. In Holland, the treats are called banketletters (named for the type of dough used in this sweet) and are eaten on December 5 for Sinterklaas Eve, when Dutch Santa Claus delivers presents to youngsters. ADDRESS. Remove from baking sheet; cool on racks. Brush with water and sprinkle with additional granulated sugar. ADDRESS. Makes 20 Dutch letters. Puff Pillows Holland creme filled puff pastry topped with rock sugar. Add remaining egg white and the sugars, and beat until smooth, 1-2 minutes; set filling aside. unsalted butter, cut into 1/2" slices and chilled. Thank you for shopping with Vander Ploeg Bakery! Johan Stellingwerff. They make authentic dutch letters, cookies, donuts, sweet rolls, breads, etc. Pella, Iowa 50219. You can also enjoy a short breakfast or lunch menu with... coffee treats. We also make them in small batches. In a large bowl, whisk together flour and salt; add butter and toss until flour evenly coats butter. Dutch Settlers in Northwest Iowa 103. continued for many years, strengthening the ethnic and agrarian character of the northwest Iowa colony. Of course, Van Hemert’s isn’t the only Dutch Bakery in Iowa – though it may be the best. The recipe for these flaky, almond-filled pastries is based on one from Jaarsma's Bakery in Pella, Iowa. Transfer dough to a floured work surface, and knead until dough comes together, about 10 strokes. Like us on FACEBOOK. of Dutch Spice Cookies, 1 Pkg. Dutch letters: Iowa's quintessential treat This story is a part of the Iowa Pride series. I had never tried a Dutch letter until a couple years ago. Apparently they are one of the things to get when you go to the Pella Tulip Time Tulip Festival in May. The Dutch Oven Bakery does a great job of taking care of your sweet tooth. I used to make them all the time, but they take a lot of time. Saveur may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. Customer Service. For birthdays and other special occasions, the Jaarsma Bakery custom shapes these treats into any initial, even the letter K. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. of White Walnut Bars. I recently enjoyed these at a 4th of July celebration. Quick View. Cut dough crosswise into 4 equal pieces. Roll dough into a 15" x 10" rectangle. Check out our Online Orders page to have our wonderful Dutch treats delivered to you. A Bonnier Corporation Company. Reviewed September 28, 2019 via mobile . Though the letters are still made using Harmon's recipe, they're no longer shaped by hand; after almost a century, the Jaarsmas commissioned a machine that takes six people to run and can churn out hundreds of the treats an hour, each nearly a foot long if stretched out. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Van Hemert's Dutch Oven Bakery is a full-line scratch bakery offering a variety of delicious pastries, cakes, and other baked goods. Saveur may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. A delightful gift for any occasion. More Pie Amidst the Pomp: The Dessert That Could’ve, Should’ve Been at Biden’s Inaugural Luncheon, How to Make Menestra, Spain’s Most Unsung Comfort Food, 15 Excellent Asian Dishes for a Lunar New Year Celebration, Caldo Verde (Portuguese Potato and Collard Green Soup With Chouriço), How One Peruvian Chef Is Preserving Amazonian Food Traditions, The Truth About Natural Wine and Hangovers, Beyond Champagne: The Best Sparkling Wines Under $50, This Forgotten Cult Dessert is Still a New York Signature, This Holiday Season, Treat Yourself to Vintage Champagne. Transfer to a rack and let cool for 20 minutes before serving. Dutch Letters These S-shaped super flaky butter pastries filled with almond paste and topped with crunchy sugar are popular in both Iowa and Holland during the Christmas season. Pella, Iowa – Dutch Influence Distinctive yet quaint is a perfect way to describe the small town of Pella, Iowa. The best Dutch letters I can find come from Pella, Iowa. 6 Dutch Letters, 1 Pkg. Pella, Iowa … SCS was ranked #1 in Iowa for grades 3 to 5 in a five-year longevity report in 2011 that … This augmentation oc-curred despite irrepressible acculturation that over time worked to Americanize the colony's ethnic inhabitants. Family-owned and operated since 1983, we are famous for our Dutch Letters, Dutch Apple Bread and our award-winning wedding cakes. Pecan Crispies An old fashioned favorite loaded with pecans, cinnamon and sugar. Here's HER description as written in the magazine, My family is Dutch, and my aunt passed down her traditional Dutch letter recipe to me. Though the trip was epic, as soon as we arrived, I'd insist that we get back in the car and drive 50 more miles east to Pella, Iowa, a town whose Dutch heritage was apparent in its old-fashioned windmill, in the wooden clogs in shop windows, and most important, in the old-world sweets at the Jaarsma Bakery. Heat oven to 375°. Though that's probably more cookie than a small girl should tackle, I'd down one with ease, savoring the ends where the almond paste had oozed out. The alphabet-shaped cookies were a natural fit for St. Nicholas, who is also the patron saint of students. As members of Christian Schools International (CSI), we are expected to strive for, attain, and maintain high academic standards. But now I'm hooked! Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill for 20 minutes. Dutch Letters are our specialty. The recipe is from the wonderful magazine "Our Iowa" -- the June/July 2010 edition, and it was submitted by B. Weiser. Dutch Letter Pastries are one of the most beloved holiday desserts of all time. In Minnesota and Iowa (USA) we still give pastry Dutch letters as gifts…on Christmas Eve…they correspond with the families last names. … Transfer 1 dough piece to a lightly floured work surface, chilling remaining 3 pieces. Reply. Homemade and handmade and from scratch- that’s what makes us stand apart from the rest! One of the most unique towns in Iowa is hiding a (poorly kept!) Pie Amidst the Pomp: The Dessert That Could’ve, Should’ve Been at Biden’s Inaugural Luncheon, How to Make Menestra, Spain’s Most Unsung Comfort Food, 15 Excellent Asian Dishes for a Lunar New Year Celebration, Caldo Verde (Portuguese Potato and Collard Green Soup With Chouriço), How One Peruvian Chef Is Preserving Amazonian Food Traditions, The Truth About Natural Wine and Hangovers, Beyond Champagne: The Best Sparkling Wines Under $50, This Forgotten Cult Dessert is Still a New York Signature, This Holiday Season, Treat Yourself to Vintage Champagne, 1 lb. Robert P. Swierenga, editor. We hand make and shape every single letter. Dutch Letters WOW! Nan makes her dutch letters with LOTS of yummy moist real almond paste filling inside. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Jaarsma's Bakery is probably the most popular bakery in Pella. The least frequently used letters are Q and X.In some aspects, the digraph IJ behaves as a single letter. The recipe is from the wonderful magazine Our Iowa -- the June/July 2010 edition, and it was submitted by B. Weiser. 515.277.2201. Professional letters, personal letters… letters all over the world still manage to find their way. Price $39.00. Here's HER description as written in the magazine, "My family is Dutch, and my aunt passed down her traditional Dutch letter recipe to me. In the Netherlands letterbanket are traditionally eaten on Sinterklaasavond on December 5, where they are shaped in the initials of family members. We make our puff pastry from scratch every day to assure the quality of our products. So, I would like to give you a little information on what to pay attention to when writing a letter in Dutch… This recipe lets you replicate the Dutch Letter with out the trip. And here as well, Christmas is the only time you will find them at Dutch bakeries throughout the midwest. Each Dutch Letter is an "S" shaped puff pastry about eight inches tall, with moist almond paste filling, baked to golden perfection and sprinkled with a touch of sugar. The Des Moines Register. Pages Businesses Media/News Company The Des Moines Register Videos Dutch letters: Iowa's quintessential treat. As we approached this town with a little over 10,000 population, we immediately realized that this was far different from the regular, run of the mill American town that you come across on your travels around the Midwest. If you’ve never treated yourself to a Dutch Letter from Jaarsma Bakery, you’re missing out! The Story Behind This Iowa Bakery Is Truly Incredible. Our small class sizes allow for individual attention. While similar baked letters date back to the Middle Ages, the pastries did not become connected with the holiday until the 1800s, when the popular children's book St. Nicholas and His Servant inspired a renewed interest in the saint. 105 22. Brush each pastry with egg wash and sprinkle liberally with sugar. Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden. In a small bowl, whisk together remaining egg and milk; set egg wash aside. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. The modern Dutch alphabet consists of the 26 letters of the ISO basic Latin alphabet and is used for the Dutch language.Five (or six) letters are vowels and 21 (or 20) letters are consonants.The letter E is the most frequently used letter in the Dutch alphabet. Copyright © 2021 Saveur. Twelve of our famous Dutch Letters. Walter Lagerwey, translator. All rights reserved. I can only imagine what all their other products are like. Worth a stop but the regulars take up a lot of chairs. All rights reserved. Susan Stapleton. "I can't wait to send the pictures to Dad,'' she said with a giggle. They are unbelievable! Today banketletters are given as Sinterklaas gifts, usually shaped in the recipient's initial. Iowa Letters: Dutch Immigrants On The American Frontier (Historical Series of the Reformed Church in America (HSRCA)) 6 Dutch Letters & 1 Ring of Pella Bologna. Pig's Ears Don't let the name fool ya! Welcome to Nan’s Nummies. Revised translation of Amsterdamse Emigranten: onbekende brieven uit de prairie van Iowa, 1846-1873.Edited by Johan Stellingwerff. Jaarsma's Dutch Letters. secret – the most incredible dutch bakery on this side of the Atlantic. "He'll die, he'll love it so much; I'll look like his ma.'' Family owned and operated since 1898, Jaarsma Bakery specializes in authentic Dutch pastries made from scratch daily in our Pella and Oskaloosa, Iowa, locations. Date of visit: September 2019. Roll dough into a 12. They make fantastic peanut brittle for the holidays. View Comments. The recipe for these flaky, almond-filled pastries is based on one from Jaarsma's Bakery in Pella, Iowa. Uncover; and repeat rolling and folding technique twice more. The Jaarsma family has been selling these flaky S-shaped pastries, filled with almond paste and sprinkled with crystallized sugar, since Harmon Jaarsma, an immigrant from Friesland in northern Holland, first opened the bakery in 1889. These are made with cinnamon and sugar baked into layers of puff pastry dough and are lightly glazed Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Growing up in Iowa, you become accustom to the seasonal trips to Pella and the delicious Dutch Letters from Jaarsma Bakery. At an Iowa bakery, it's Christmas every day with these Dutch treats. These dutch letter bars are addicting and delicious! 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