Punschkrapfen


Punschkrapfen or Punschkrapferl is a classic Austrian confection of pastry with a fine rum flavor. It is similar to the French pastry, the petit four.
Today, one can find Punschkrapfen in most pastry shops and bakeries in Austria.

Composition

It is a cake filled with cake crumbs, nougat chocolate, apricot jam and then soaked with rum. The cake is cut into 1-1/2 inch square cubes, covered with so-called Punschglasur, a thick pink rum sugar glazing often drizzled with chocolate and a cocktail cherry on top. Nowadays, there are also Punschkrapfen in cylindrical form.

History

It is disputed who made the first Punschkrapfen and where it came from. It may have been introduced to Vienna in the Middle Ages by the Avars, or the Ottoman armies brought the Punschkrapfen to Vienna, or it may have been invented by an imperial court confectioner.

Trivia

It is said that the Punschkrapferl renders the typical Austrian character: red outside, brown inside, and always a little smashed. "Punschkrapferl" is a term often used by Austrians to describe Nazi politicians who joined the Social Democrats after World War II. These politicians are said to be red on the outside and brown on the inside.
Robert Menasse suggested satirically that the Punschkrapfen should become the Austrian National Symbol.