Tebirkes (sometimes thebirkes, københavnerbirkes, or grovbirkes) is a traditional sweet pastry originating from Denmark. It is made with two layers of laminated dough sandwiching a layer of marzipan filling and topped with poppy seeds.

Tebirkes
Alternative namesthebirkes, københavnerbirkes, grovbirkes
TypePastry
Place of originDenmark
Main ingredientsflour, butter, milk, white sugar, yeast, eggs, marzipan, poppy seeds

History

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The name "Tebirkes" comes from the Danish words "te" meaning tea and "birkes" meaning poppy seeds.[1]

The origin of Tebirkes is Austrian and dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries, even though the name refers to Denmark.[2] The pastry was introduced to Denmark by Austrian bakers who came to work in Copenhagen in the late 1800s.[2] Over time, Danish bakers adapted the recipe and added their own twist by incorporating marzipan filling and poppy seeds on top.[3][1] Tebirkes is a popular pastry in Denmark and can be found in most bakeries throughout the country.[1]

Preparation

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The pastry is usually made with milk, sugar, salt, flour, yeast, eggs, and butter.[4] The dough is made by rolling out laminated dough and folding it several times to create layers.[3][5]

Variations

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There are different variations of Tebirkes in Denmark. The traditional filling is remonce, a mixture of sugar, butter, and either nuts or marzipan.[6] However, jam, custard, and fruit can also be used as a filling.[6] There are also different types of Tebirkes; according to Scandinavia Standard the ones filled with remonce are "undoubtedly the most popular".[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Druckman, Charlotte (2013-01-31). "The Tebirke Pastry from Bien Cuit". Bon Appétit. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  2. ^ a b "Cape Town bakery introduces Tebirkes: The Danish pastry you need to try". Eat Out. 2017-06-09. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  3. ^ a b Belanger, Sofie (2020-11-12). "Tebirkes (Danish Pastry with Poppy Seeds)". Skandibaking. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  4. ^ "Tebirkes: Traditional Sweet Pastry From Denmark". TasteAtlas. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  5. ^ "Birkes, Thebirkes, Københavnerbirkes, Grovbirkes – dear child has many names". My Danish Kitchen. 2012-05-21. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  6. ^ a b "Chokoladebolle & Tebirkes". TasteAtlas. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  7. ^ Nielsen-Bobbit, Jaughna (2019-10-21). "Every Type of Danish Pastry You Need to Try in Copenhagen". Scandinavia Standard. Retrieved 2023-04-08.