Rose Marie Gueldner, author, culinary historian, longtime colleague, and a descendant of Germans from Russia pioneers, has authored a new book:
The Joy of German Cookies, Volume 5: Gingerbread & Pfeffernüsse Cookie Favorites.
“The Joy of German Cookies” series is a result of Rose Marie’s years of foodway research and presented as an encyclopedia of cookie recipes made by home bakers in a variety of German groups. She reminds us that food is history—family history and group history—and the scents and delights of cookies evoke special memories for ages. Rose Marie blends her wonderful tastes of baking German cookies with a comprehensive collection of recipes, written clearly for the first-time cookie maker as well as the experienced bakers. “The Joy of German Cookies” is not only a reliable collection of tested recipes for the baker, but also attractive to give as a special gift.
This outstanding Volume 5 includes a collection of 105 recipes spanning German-speaking groups in the Old World to groups that immigrated to faraway places—east to Russia and west to North America—more than 20 different German groups who view themselves as distinct because of their homelands, food culture, and historic events.
Explore the story of the German gingerbread, filled with fascinating historical commentary and images of early Lebkuchen bakers and the molds and spices they used. Learn about the role of gingerbread in European and North American cultures. Discover the background of peppernuts, a German “must have” Christmas cookie, in the Pfeffernuesse story.
Chapters in the new book include:
1) The German Gingerbread Story; 2) Gingerbread in European Culture; 3) Groups in this Collection; 4) Recipes in this Collection; 5) Making Gingerbread & Pfeffernuesse; 6) German Gingerbread Molded Cookies; 7) German Gingerbread Bar Cookie Recipes; 8) German Gingerbread Cutout Cookie Recipes; 9) Nuremberg Gingerbread Wafer Cookie Recipes; 10) Elise Gingerbread Wafer Cookies; 11) Swiss Gingerbread Cookies; 12) Eastern European Gingerbread Cookie Recipes; 13) Filled Gingerbread Cookie Recipes; 14) Other European & North American Gingerbread Cookie Favorites 15) Gingerbread Cakes & Loaves Recipes; 16) The German Peppernut Story, and 17) Gingerbread Spices & Sweets Recipes.
Recipes include:
Brown & White Gingerbread; German Gingerbread Bar Cookies, Gingerbread Cutout Cookies; German Rye Gingerbread Cutout Cookies; White Gingerbread; Gingerbread People Cookies; German-Russian Honey Spice Bars; Polish/Prussian/German Gingerbread; Russian Gingerbread; Ukrainian Gingerbread Cookies; German Filled Gingerbread Heart Cookies; Russian Filled Gingerbread Cookies; Swiss Filled Gingerbread Nuggets; Ukrainian Filled Gingerbread Cookies; Chocolate Almond Spice Bars; Dutch Gingerbread Molded Cookies; Ginger Crisp Molasses Cookies; Moravian Spice Cookies; Missouri German Gingerbread Cookies; Molasses Spice Cookies; Alpine Gingerbread; and All-American Gingerbread Cake.
Other excellent recipes include:
Dutch Spice Loaf; Ukrainian Honey Spice Loaf; Alsatian Spice Mini-Cakes with Fruit Filling; Gingerbread Hearts; Gingerbread Houses; Baked Honey Spice Bars; Bern Honey Spice Hazelnut Cookies; Czech Gingerbread Cutout Cookies; German-Russian Gingerbread Cutout Cookies; Anise Cookies; German-Russian Little Cakes; Austrian Filled Gingerbread Cookies; Appenzell Bars with Marzipan Filling; German-Russian Honey Spice Cookies; Alsatian Spice Loaf; Jewish Honey Loaf; German-Russian Peppernuts; Gingerbread Spice Mix; and Gingerbread Chocolate Glaze.
Gueldner spent years researching history; traveling to ethnic communities, visiting cooks, and gathering data for these books. Using her background in food science, history, and folklore, Gueldner helps readers understand the why, how, and when of food and recipes. Importantly for a cookbook, she uses her skills as an educator, journalist, and accomplished home baker to present recipes with clear, easy-to-follow instructions.
Testimonials
“Rose Marie Gueldner, a longtime colleague, has authored an impressive new book series, The Joy of German Cookies. Rose Marie also authored the popular book, German Food & Folkways: Heirloom Memories from Europe, South Russia & the Great Plains, published by the Germans from Russia Heritage Collection, NDSU Libraries, Fargo. Gueldner has worked as an educator, professional cook, journalist, and businesswoman. Her years of foodways research present an encyclopedia of cookie recipes made by home bakers in a variety of German groups. She reminds us that food is history - family history and group history – and that the scents and delights of cookies evoke special memories for all ages. Rose Marie blends her wonderful tastes of baking German cookies with a comprehensive collection of recipes, written clearly for the first-time cookie baker as well as the experienced baker. The Joy of German Cookies is not only a reliable collection of tested recipes for the baker, but also attractive to give as a special gift.”
— Michael M. Miller, Emeritus Director, Germans from Russia Heritage Collection, North Dakota State University Libraries, Fargo, ND
“The Joy of German Cookies series of cookbooks are fabulous! Far more than a collection of recipes, each volume acquaints you with your culture and heritage. You may not know your ancestors by name, but you will recognize your heritage in the cookies they baked! These books are a priceless treasure that you’ll want to share with family and friends and pass on to future generations. Feed your heart and your soul and learn about your unique heritage in this marvelous publication!”
— Bonnie Everhart, Hickory, NC, Book Review Editor, Palatines To America, German Genealogical Society, Indianapolis, IN
The Author
Rose Marie H. Gueldner, a descendant of Germans from Russia pioneers, has worked as an educator, professional cook, writer, journalist, and businesswoman. She spent years researching history, traveling to ethnic communities, visiting cooks, and gathering data for this book. Using her background in food science, history, and folklore, Gueldner helps the reader understand the ‘why’, ‘how’, and ‘when’ of food and recipes. Importantly for a cookbook, she uses her skills as an educator, journalist, and accomplished home baker to present recipes with clear, easy-to-follow instructions. Gueldner also writes on food traditions for German heritage newsletters. She is the author of the best-selling historical cookbook, German Food & Folkways, and several volumes of The Joy of German Cookies in her German in the Kitchen series.
