Explore

Leipzig Larks

Leipzig Larks

  • Leipziger Lerche

The Leipziger Lerche is a pastry of Leipzig. The name originates from the coveted delicacy popular in the Leipzig area until the 1870s. The dish used the actual songbird lark, (German:Lerche) which was roasted with herbs and eggs and served as a filling in a pastry crust. In the year 1720 alone, 400.000 larks were sold in Leipzig for consumption. The hunting of the songbirds was officially banned by the saxonian King Albert I in 1876.
Today's pastry replaced the traditional meat-filled pastry after the ban. The local pastry chefs are credited for helping to preserve the larks by creating the new, sweet version of Leipziger Lerche shortly after the hunting ban was imposed. Today's version consists of a fine pasty made of shortcrust, almonds, nuts and strawberry jam, whose tasty flavour became the vanguard of culinary treats to come. It is topped with a grid of two crossed dough strips.
This delicious pastry is available at almost any bakery in Leipzig. It can also be found in many cafés, where it goes exceptionally well with a cup of coffee.

Top