A Dominostein (meaning domino tile, plural Dominosteine) is a confection primarily sold during Christmas season in Germany and Austria.[1]
 Dominostein, fine bitter chocolate coating | |
| Type | Confectionery |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Germany |
| Region or state | Saxony |
| Created by | Herbert Wendler |
| Main ingredients | Lebkuchen, sour cherry or apricot jelly, marzipan or persipan, milk or dark chocolate |
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
editThe 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 and rebuilt 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. In 1996 Dresden-based Dr. Quendt GmbH & Co. KG acquired his company and original Dominostein recipe. By then the confection had become popular nationwide, especially during Christmas.[1]
Retail sales
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Dr. Quendt still manufactures and sells Wendler's original Dominostein. Other German manufacturers and distributors include Edeka, Favorina, Lambertz, and Niederegger. Small confectioneries in Germany also make and sell Dominosteine, including variations with strawberry jelly and nougat. In the United States, Aldi markets them as "chocolate dominos" under its Deutsche Küche and Winternacht brands.[1][5][6]
See also
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References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Dominostein: The Dresden Tricolor Confection Invented from Wartime Food Shortages". December 2020.
- ^ "BMEL - Lebensmittel-Kennzeichnung - Leitsätze für Feine Backwaren" [Guidelines for fine pastries]. www.bmel.de (in German). Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ "Dresdner Dominosteine". www.landwirtschaft.sachsen.de (in German). Archived from the original on 26 December 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ "Dominosteine - Layered Christmas Cookie Recipe from Germany". About.com Food. Archived from the original on 25 December 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ "Deutsche Küche Chocolate Dominos". Aldi Things. 20 September 2022.
- ^ "The Full Lineup of Aldi Winternacht Sweets". Aisle of Shame: Aldi Finds for Aldi Fans. 11 December 2020.
External links
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Media related to Dominostein at Wikimedia Commons