Dominostein

A Dominostein (meaning domino tile, plural Dominosteine) is a confection primarily sold during Christmas season in Germany and Austria.[1]

Dominostein
Dominostein, fine bitter chocolate coating
TypeConfectionary
Place of originGermany
Region or stateSaxony
Created byHerbert Wendler
Main ingredientsLebkuchen, sour cherry or apricot jelly, marzipan or persipan, milk or dark chocolate
Three varieties of Dominostein

It is a layered confection, related to the Mille-feuille, opera cake, Punschkrapfen, and Jaffa Cakes. Dominostein has a base of Lebkuchen (gingerbread), a middle layer of jelly (e.g. from sour cherries or apricots), and a top layer of marzipan or persipan. It is enveloped in (typically) dark chocolate.[1][2]

History

The Dominostein was invented in 1936 by Herbert Wendler (1912–1998) in Dresden. Because of the food shortage during World War II, he intended it as a lower-priced alternative to his more expensive pralines. It became popular as a Notpraline (hardship praline or emergency praline). Wendler's original recipe used Pulsnitzer Pfefferkuchen (gingerbread from Pulsnitz).[1][3][4]

Wendler's factory was destroyed in World War II, but he rebuilt it in 1952. In 1972, his company was nationalized during communist rule in East Germany. The government returned the company to Wendler in 1990 during German reunification. He died in 1996, and his company and original Dominostein recipe were acquired by Dresden-based Dr. Quendt GmbH & Co. KG. By that time the confection had become popular nationwide, especially during Christmas.[1]

Retail sales
A package of Dr. Quendt Dominosteine
Mass production in a Lambertz factory

Dr. Quendt still manufactures and sells Wendler's original Dominostein. Other German manufacturers and distributors include Edeka, Favorina, Lambertz, and Niederegger. Dominostein is also made and sold by small confectionaries in Germany, which make variations with strawberry jelly and nougat. In the United States it is sold by Aldi under its Deutsche Kuche brand.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Dominostein: The Dresden Tricolor Confection Invented from Wartime Food Shortages".
  2. "BMEL - Lebensmittel-Kennzeichnung - Leitsätze für Feine Backwaren" [Guidelines for fine pastries]. www.bmel.de (in German). Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  3. "Dresdner Dominosteine". www.landwirtschaft.sachsen.de (in German). Archived from the original on 26 December 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  4. "Dominosteine - Layered Christmas Cookie Recipe from Germany". About.com Food. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
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