Dominosteine made Just like Oma

by: Gerhild Fulson  / Using her extensive experience and cultural knowledge, Oma Gerhild provides trusted, authentic, and easy-to-follow German recipes both here and in her many cookbooks.

Dominosteine, aka domino stones, is that ONE treat I always bought as soon as the Christmas goodies were available at our local German deli. 

BUT, they are quite expensive. AND, I really, really like them. So, this year, I'm making them instead, and that's thanks to Flora, one of our readers, who requested a recipe for this.

Making Dominosteine is a fairly long process. Certainly not one of the quick German Christmas cookie recipes. But, if you really want Domino "stones", and can't buy any, and love to bake, then try these. It'll make quite a few, about 14 dozen. And, it certainly isn't an easy recipe. Make sure you follow it step-by-step.

This recipe is my updated version taken from my really old, falling-apart Das neue große Kochbuch. It has so many pages missing, but it's out of print, so I can't replace it. (edited: I was finally able to find a used one at a German book re-seller ... talk about shipping charges sending it to Canada! But it was worth it ... it's my favorite cookbook!)

This is a German gingerbread-type cookie. It's often called a "layered gingerbread" because the traditional "cookie" has three layers that are covered in chocolate. 

Helpful Hints:

• If your cookie sheet is too big, use a crunched "roll" of aluminum foil to shorten the sheet.
• To make it easier to cut the cake, cut the cake into 4 sections first. Then it will be easier to cut these smaller sections in half horizontally.

Dominosteine Origins

They are actually a fairly "new" German tradition. These little treats were the "inexpensive" pralines created by Herbert Wendler in 1936 in Dresden to add to his more expensive pralines.

This cheaper chocolate included a lebkuchen (gingerbread) layer, a sour cherry or apricot jelly layer, and a marzipan layer. These little squares were then coated with chocolate.

Now, however, they are so in demand that they are among the pricier Christmas treats one can buy.

Now, though, thanks to Flora, this will end up becoming one of my German Christmas traditions because it brings that wonderful gingerbread fragrance throughout the house.

READ this FIRST ...

I received a wonderful tip from one of our Kaffeklatschers (from our private Facebook Group ... do join up to be part of the fun!) ...

Karin Vallo says:

The trick is to freeze the cake part, after you cut the layer and spread the jam, Marzipan and jam again. Leave at room temp for 30 minutes, cut into the little squares and freeze overnight. Hand dip in melted chocolate, only remove 12 at a time from freezer.

Print Recipe

Dominosteine made Just like Oma

Dominosteine, aka domino stones, is that ONE treat that most Germans buy. Why? Because the process of making them is quite time-consuming and a bit tricky.

But, if you can't buy them, and you really want them, here's my version of this traditional Christmas treat.

Prep Time 120 minutes

Bake Time 30 minutes

Total Time 150 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup honey
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• 7 tbsp butter
• 3 cups flour, all-purpose
• 1 tsp Lebkuchen spice or pumpkin pie spice
• 3 tbsp cocoa
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 2 eggs
• 2 tbsp rum
• ¼ lb marzipan
• ⅓ cup powdered sugar
• 1 tbsp rosewater or 1 tsp almond extract
• about 1 cup apricot jelly or orange marmalade
• 3½ ounces chocolate (dark or milk)
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 4 - 5 tbsp milk or water
• 1 tbsp butter

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 360°F. Grease rimmed cookie sheet (about 14" x 17")
2. Heat honey, sugar, and butter in a saucepan until sugar and butter are melted, stirring constantly. Let cool.
3. Mix flour, spice, cocoa, and baking powder together and set aside.
4. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the eggs with the rum. Add the cooled honey mixture. and mix. Slowly add in flour mixture and mix until smooth.
5. Spread dough onto cookie sheet, approximately ½-inch thick. Smooth top.
6. Bake for 20 - 30 minutes, or until wooden toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean.
7. Let cool.

Assembly:

1. Knead marzipan with ⅓ cup powdered sugar and rosewater or almond extract. If too soft, add a bit more powdered sugar.
2. Roll out marzipan mixture between two layers of plastic wrap until it is the size of the cake.
3. Cut the cake horizontally to make two layers. See hints below.
4. Brush bottom layer with jelly or marmalade.
5. Cover with marzipan.
6. Brush jelly or marmalade over marzipan layer.
7. Cover with top cake layer.
8. Cut into 1-inch (approx.) squares.
9. In a double-boiler, melt chocolate and mix with 1 cup powdered sugar, water or milk, and butter.
10. Dip "Dominosteine" in chocolate and let set on cookie rack until chocolate has hardened.
11. These dominos taste best after sitting several days in a well sealed container.

Notes/Hints:

• Try this trick from Karin: The trick is to freeze the cake part, after you cut the layer and spread the jam, Marzipan and jam again. Leave at room temp for 30 minutes, cut into the little squares and freeze overnight. Hand dip in melted chocolate, only remove 12 at a time from freezer.
• To make it easier to cut the cake, cut the cake into 4 sections first. Then it will be easier to cut these smaller sections in half horizontally.

*  *  *  *  *

Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

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Hi, I'm Oma Gerhild! As a food writer and cookbook author, I'm always looking to find ways to pass on my German heritage using local ingredients. Quick and easy. That's my goal. Wunderbar food. That's the result.