Have you tried making banket at home yet?

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Discussion Overview

The thread centers around the experiences and opinions of participants regarding making banket, a traditional Dutch pastry. Participants share personal anecdotes about their attempts at baking banket, discuss recipes, and express their fondness for the treat, while also touching on cultural connections to Dutch heritage.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, shares their experience of making 42 loaves of banket for a fundraiser and expresses a desire to try making it at home.
  • Another participant mentions their love for almond and expresses curiosity about the type of sugar used in the recipe.
  • One participant notes that they buy banket from a local bakery and highlights the availability of almond paste in supermarkets.
  • Another participant shares their family tradition of making banket and learning baking techniques from their mother-in-law.
  • Several users mention the cultural significance of banket in West Michigan, with some noting that it is commonly referred to as "sticks of banket."
  • One participant discusses the cost of almond paste and compares it to bulk purchasing options.
  • Another participant shares their enjoyment of banket and describes their baking success, despite not having Dutch heritage.
  • Some participants engage in light-hearted banter about their cultural backgrounds and connections to Dutch traditions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ regarding the familiarity and popularity of banket, with some participants expressing strong connections to Dutch culture while others are less familiar with the pastry.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects a community of individuals with varying degrees of connection to Dutch heritage, particularly in the context of West Michigan, where banket is a popular treat.

Who May Find This Useful

Participants interested in baking traditional Dutch pastries or those exploring cultural culinary practices may find the shared experiences and tips valuable.

JAE
JAE
Messages
4,739
I'm so into making (and eating) banket right now. The recipe I used is from allrecipes.com. http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Banket/Detail.aspx?src=etaf I hope it turns out. I made 42 loaves with about 5 other people the other night for a fundraiser. Now, I want to try it myself at home. I have the pastry dough and the filling chilling in the frig.

Does anyone else ever make this? It's pretty popular here around Dutch country (West Michigan). If you have any tips to share, please post them. The loaf I took home from my friends' the other night was good, but they were baked on dark, non stick pans. The bottoms were more browned than the tops, too brown. I want to show them that the banket works out great on stones because of the even browning. I hope it really does work. :chef:

I'll post my results after I'm done. Last time I tried this (many years ago) I ended up having to buy a loaf from the store to take to a school function because mine fell apart. We ate it, so no worries. ;)

JAE
 
Mmmmm. I love almond. Sounds like these would be really good.

What do they mean by "white" sugar?
 
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Janine, you live here but have never had this? D&W sells it.White sugar is sugar, I guess. That recipe isn't mine. I just used that recipe. It's not brown and it's not powdered, so it's just regular sugar.
 
I LOVE Banket! It's one of the Dutch things DH introduced me to that I absolutely adore.

I buy mine at Steenstra's Dutch Bakery. It's on Chicago Dr. (sorta) in Grandville.

If you go to Peter's Imports (In the D&W Plaza across from Rivertown Mall) you can buy the Almond Paste by the gallon!
 
People around here generally call them sticks of banket, not loaves.Almond paste can be found in most supermarkets in the baking aisle. It's usually sold in a small tube/roll.
 
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  • #6
My almond paste was $4.99 for a 10 oz package. Ugh! I don't need an entire gallon, but I wonder how much a gallon is compared to what I paid for 20 oz. 14 oz is all I needed (it equals 1 1/2 cups). Thankfully, I had a $5 coupon off a $25 grocery purchase and my All laundry detergent was on sale and with a coupon $1.49. ($15.20 in coupons all together. I deserve to splurge on almond paste. :))

JAE
 
My MIL is the BEST at baking Banket and I have her recipe. I made it with her years ago so that I could learn her tricks and now one of my daughters has done the same thing. She used to make Banket Wreaths at Christmas but that is much more work to put them in a circle and keep them smooth so it's only sticks now but I'm telling you... it's the bEST!
 
LOL - what I think is funny is that everyone who is posting on this thread has a connection to West MI! It's definitely a tradition here!
 
yeah, we're all Dutch! :D
 
DebbieJ said:
yeah, we're all Dutch! :D
Click to expand...

Well, I guess I am now...having been grafted into a Dutch family by marriage. :D
 
WHen I hear "Dutch" country, I think of out here. I live out in Pennsylvania Dutch Country and I haven't heard of Banket before. :D We've got Whoopie Pies and Chow Chow and Shoo Fly Pie. There's more, but those are the most famous dishes out here.
 
babywings76 said:
WHen I hear "Dutch" country, I think of out here. I live out in Pennsylvania Dutch Country and I haven't heard of Banket before. :D We've got Whoopie Pies and Chow Chow and Shoo Fly Pie. There's more, but those are the most famous dishes out here.
Click to expand...

Pennsylvania Dutch isn't the same. Not sure what the background is for the Penn. Dutch...but this area is referred to as "Little Netherlands"....many many immigrants from the Netherlands living here. Many of them still first generation. (not uncommon to hear Dutch being spoken, or at least heavily accented English...my husband's grandfather was one of those.)
Another big tradition here is having the Chocolate Initial in your stocking. The initial of your first name in chocolate....made by a Dutch Chocolate Company.
 
ChefBeckyD said:
Pennsylvania Dutch isn't the same. Not sure what the background is for the Penn. Dutch...but this area is referred to as "Little Netherlands"....many many immigrants from the Netherlands living here. Many of them still first generation. (not uncommon to hear Dutch being spoken, or at least heavily accented English...my husband's grandfather was one of those.)
Another big tradition here is having the Chocolate Initial in your stocking. The initial of your first name in chocolate....made by a Dutch Chocolate Company.
Click to expand...

Mmmm....Droste!
 
DebbieJ said:
Mmmm....Droste!
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Yes! I'm partial to the little disks that are half milk/half dark choc. LOVE those!Getting ready to go to Costco, Deb! Lunch there today! :)
 
ChefBeckyD said:
Yes! I'm partial to the little disks that are half milk/half dark choc. LOVE those!

Getting ready to go to Costco, Deb! Lunch there today! :)
Click to expand...

I had lunch there yesterday. :)
 
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  • #16
Lunch at Costco?

I want a chocolate initial in my stocking. Someone tell my dh!

My banket looks really good. It's perfectly golden brown, slid right off my rectangle stone and is cooling on my cooling rack. I'm giving some away and taking the rest to family Christmas functions. We are not Dutch. My husband and his Dad's family are Swedish. My maiden name is Irish, though our ancestors have been in this country for many generations. Not sure what country we are originally from. I don't even go to a Christian Reformed or any kind of Reformed church, Wesleyan, actually. All I KNOW is that I really, really like almond paste!!! (And, I'm surrounded by tall Dutch people who mostly attend CRC churches:))

JAE
 
JAE said:
Lunch at Costco? I want a chocolate initial in my stocking. Someone tell my dh!My banket looks really good. It's perfectly golden brown, slid right off my rectangle stone and is cooling on my cooling rack. I'm giving some away and taking the rest to family Christmas functions. We are not Dutch. My husband and his Dad's family are Swedish. My maiden name is Irish, though our ancestors have been in this country for many generations. Not sure what country we are originally from. I don't even go to a Christian Reformed or any kind of Reformed church, Wesleyan, actually. All I KNOW is that I really, really like almond paste!!! (And, I'm surrounded by tall Dutch people who mostly attend CRC churches:))JAE
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The problem is that by this time of the season, most of the initials are sold out. :(Although I look Dutch - I'm not. German, English, and Irish mix. But Rick is DUTCH! (Isn't it funny - I look more Dutch than him:))He grew up going to a CR school and church...but we're Wesleyan along with you now.:D But, hey - your kids go to a CR School!
Everyone in my family likes almond paste too. YUM!
 
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ChefBeckyD said:
The problem is that by this time of the season, most of the initials are sold out. :(



Although I look Dutch - I'm not. German, English, and Irish mix. But Rick is DUTCH! (Isn't it funny - I look more Dutch than him:))

He grew up going to a CR school and church...but we're Wesleyan along with you now.:D But, hey - your kids go to a CR School!
Everyone in my family likes almond paste too. YUM!
Click to expand...

Yes, my kids go to a CR school, but I just reprogram them as we go along. LOL!
 
JAE said:
Yes, my kids go to a CR school, but I just reprogram them as we go along. LOL!
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Hey now....I am a CR church attending, CR school educated woman here. I even went to Calvin College! LOL

Funny thing is I send my son to public school. ;)
 
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I grew up almost Baptist and my husband grew up Baptist. I've never been surrounded by more CRC people in my life. My Wesleyan church is the largest church in town, so apparently they all see the need for reprogramming.:angel: LOL! (Please, nobody slam me. I'm just doing some teasing about the reprogramming thing, here.);)

Merry Christmas!

JAE
 
Merry Christmas! (I know you're just joking and I totally get it!)
 
DebbieJ said:
Merry Christmas!

(I know you're just joking and I totally get it!)
Click to expand...

LOL! you have to totally get it, when Jill lives in an area where people have bumper stickers that say "If you're not Dutch, you're not Much"!

I LOVE this area, and am thankful to be raising my son here. I'm also very thankful for Dutch treats (haha) like Banket! Everyone else is missing out!
It's just funny to make jokes (in a loving way) some times!
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is banket and how is it traditionally made?

Banket is a Dutch pastry made with almond paste and is often wrapped in a flaky dough. Traditionally, it is rolled out and filled with a mixture of ground almonds, sugar, and egg whites, then baked until golden brown. It's a popular treat during the holidays and special occasions.

Have you tried making banket at home yet?

Yes, making banket at home can be a rewarding experience! It allows you to customize the filling and dough to your liking. Many home bakers enjoy the process of creating this delicious pastry from scratch.

What ingredients do I need to make banket?

To make banket, you will need basic ingredients such as all-purpose flour, butter, sugar, salt, and eggs for the dough. For the filling, you'll need almond paste, sugar, and egg whites. Some recipes may also call for vanilla extract for added flavor.

Can I use store-bought almond paste for making banket?

Yes, you can use store-bought almond paste to save time. Just ensure that it is of good quality, as the flavor of the almond paste significantly affects the overall taste of the banket.

What are some tips for making banket at home?

Some tips for making banket include ensuring your dough is well-chilled before rolling it out, using a light hand when handling the dough to keep it flaky, and not overfilling the pastry to prevent it from bursting during baking. Additionally, brushing the top with an egg wash can give it a beautiful golden finish.

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