Amerikaner Recipe
Serves 8
20 mins prep
15 mins cook
35 mins total
These soft Amerikaner are a classic German bakery pastry with a tender, cake-like crumb and smooth glaze on top. Finish them with lemon glaze, chocolate glaze, or both for a nostalgic treat that feels like a German cousin to the Black and White cookie.
Amerikaner dough
Lemon glaze
Chocolate glaze
Optional decorations
Make the dough
Preheat the oven to 390°F (200°C). Line two baking trays with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
Add the butter and sugar to a mixing bowl. Using a paddle attachment, handheld mixer, or stand mixer, beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes until creamy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
oz butter
oz granulated sugar
Add the whole eggs and beat again until combined.
eggs
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt.
oz all-purpose flour
oz cornstarch
oz baking powder
tsp salt
Add the dry ingredients to the mixing bowl. Mix on medium speed while slowly adding the milk and vanilla until combined.
Beat on high for 1 minute until the batter is smooth and fully combined.
fl oz milk
fl oz pure vanilla extract
Shape the Amerikaner
Using two soup spoons, scoop the batter into 8 mounds on the prepared baking trays, 4 per tray. Leave about 2 to 3 inches between each one. They will flatten out quite a bit.
If needed, gently smooth the mounds with a wet butter knife to help them bake up more round. They do not need to look perfect before baking, since they will spread as they bake.
Bake
Bake on the oven racks closest to the middle of the oven for 11 to 15 minutes, rotating the trays halfway through baking.
Single sheets and dark metal sheets will bake faster.
The Amerikaner are done when a toothpick comes out clean or with just a few crumbs and no wet batter. Be careful not to overbake them, or they may turn dry.
Remove from the oven and let them rest on the baking trays for 2 minutes.
Transfer them to cooling racks and let them cool completely with the flat side down.
Make the lemon glaze
In a small bowl, stir together the powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon lemon juice.
oz powdered sugar
tbsp lemon juice
Add more lemon juice, a little at a time, until the glaze is thick, spreadable, and does not drip too easily.
If needed, add a little more powdered sugar or lemon juice to adjust the consistency.
Test the glaze on one Amerikaner first if you want to check the texture before glazing the rest.
Make the chocolate glaze
Add the chocolate and butter to a microwave-safe bowl.
Microwave in 20-second increments, stirring between each one, until smooth.
You can also melt them together in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water using a bain-marie.
It will be pretty runny and that's okay.
Decorate
Once the Amerikaner are fully cool, turn them over so the flat side is facing up.
Using soup spoons, spread the lemon glaze, chocolate glaze, or both over the flat side of each Amerikaner.
Immediately decorate one at a time with sprinkles, nonpareils, chocolate pearls, or chopped candy if desired.
