Henry Tribe makes Brätzelis - Swiss biscuits baked in an iron

Making Brätzelis

Henry’s culinery skills were limited, menu highlights including spam fritters, baconified beans and Harry potatoes. In the later years of his life, however, he did enjoy helping Katharina make Brätzelis.

Brätzelis are Swiss biscuits that are baked in a special iron that imprints decorative patterns. First, the dough is rolled into balls. The balls are placed on the open iron, which is then closed, squashing the balls and baking them into thin biscuits.

Henry and Katharina made two types of Brätzelis: Sweet Brätzelis and savoury herb Brätzelis. Henry particularly enjoyed making savoury Brätzelis because they emit a wailing sound while being squashed and baked.

Here is a short video of Henry making Brätzelis and enjoying the wailing sound. This video was made in 2015 when Henry was 88.

Below are some pictures of Henry making Brätzelis, taken between 2018 and 2022:

Henry Tribe making Brätzelis - rolling the dough into balls. — *Making the balls …*

Henry Tribe making Brätzelis - putting the balls on the iron. — *Putting the balls on the iron …*

Henry Tribe making Brätzelis - squashing the balls and baking the Brätzelis. — *Squashing the balls and baking the Brätzelis …*

Henry Tribe making Brätzelis - removing the Brätzelis from the iron. — *Removing the Brätzelis from the iron …*

Henry Tribe making Brätzelis - job well done! — *Job well done!*

Henry Tribe making Brätzelis - it requires concentration! — *It requires concentration …*

[Return to top of page.]
[Return to main Odds & Ends page.]
[Return to main Life page.]