Grittibänz recipe for the Swiss bread man or bread woman (2024)

Ingredients for dough:
3 dl milk
60 g butter (unsalted)
15 g fresh yeast (7 g dry yeast)
1 tbs sugar (4 g)
500 g white flour (If available: Zopfmehl, Farine pour Tresse, Farina per Treccia)
1.5 tbs salt (6 g)

For the finishing touches:
1 egg yolk
2 raisins or cranberries for the eyes
Pearl sugar (coarse)
Optional: chocolate bar

Instructions to make the dough:

1. Slightly heat the milk to the point it is lukewarm, add chunks of butter and let it rest for a moment.
2. Sprinkle some flour onto a flat surface.
3. In a small bowl, mix the yeast and sugar until dissolved.
4. In a large bowl, mix flour and salt. Form a crater in the center, then add the milk from step 1 while stirring the mass.
5. Add the yeast from step 3 and keep stirring until the dough takes shape.
6. Now, use your hands to knead the dough, at one point removing it onto the flat surface. Knead for about 10 minutes to make it soft and smooth. Use the ball of your hand to form a hole, then close that same hole by folding the dough onto it.
7. Sprinkle the large bowl with flour and set the dough back.
8. Cover it with a damp kitchen towel and let the dough rest for about 1.5 hours until it has doubled in size.

When you are ready to bake:

9. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C.
10. Split the dough into 2 to 4 pieces, then form each piece into an oval shape.
11. Use a knife to clip off two little bits for the neck, thereby shaping the head.
12. Keep using the knife to mark the arms and legs.
13. Next Level Grittibänz: use some dough to form a scarf, boots, and a hat.
14. For the eyes, push the raisins or cranberries way in.
15. And finally, beat the egg yolk and paint the little bread men or bread women. Sprinkle some pearl sugar on it.
16. Bake the bunch for 20 to 25 minutes on the middle rack until they appear golden.