Christmas Adventures Around the World Advent Calendar

December 6 - Christmas in France! Happy Saint Nicolas Day!

Read: Saint Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend by Julie Stiegemeyer

Other books about Saint Nicolas:

The Legend of St. Nicholas: A Story of Christmas Giving by Dandi Daley MackallThe Miracle of Saint Nicholas by Gloria Whelan

Baker’s Dozen: A Saint Nicholas Tale with Bonus Cookie Recipe and Pattern for St. Nicholas Christmas Cookies by Aaron Shepard

Pair up today’s adventure with the FREE Printable about Saint Nicolas from Bonnie @dwellinglogs here.

(sign up with email for her freebies, they are lovely!)


Find out other fun ways you can celebrate Saint Nicolas Day:

Cook: French Sabel Cookies - Recipe included in our 3rd Edition!

We have also kept our original recipe from the 1st edition, here and in the new lesson plans.

Cook: French Mannala the French Brioche Men

In France, they also celebrate Saint Nicolas Day, with a very yummy recipe called Mannala!

Watch the video below to get an idea on how to make these yummy French Saint Nicolas Treats, and see recipe below.

French Mannala

This recipe uses a French Brioche dough, and you can create girl or boy shapes to resemble the three girls saved by Saint Nicolas.

Ingredients:

  • 6½ cups flour

  • 8 tablespoons butter, cold

  • 1 tsp of salt

  • 4½ teaspoons active dry yeast

  • ½ cup sugar

  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1¾ cup milk, warm

  • 2 eggs

  • Chocolate chips

To brush on mannalas

  • 1 egg yolk diluted in a little milk

Steps:

In a large bowl, mix the yeast with ½ cup (100ml) of milk and sugar.

Add egg and beat well. Add the remaining milk and mix. Set aside for 2 minutes.

In the bowl of the food processor, combine flour and baking soda. Stir in the diced butter with your fingertips.Make a well in the flour and add the milk, sugar and egg mixture.

Knead on low speed until reaching a dough that does not stick. Moderately increase the speed, add the salt and knead for 8 minutes.

The dough should not stick to the edges of the container. Add a few tablespoons of flour if necessary. Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, for 1h30.

Place the dough on a floured surface and work a few minutes and then line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Roll out the dough on a floured surface, or onto parchment, or plastic wrap. Then, using your large gingerbread man shape cookie cutter, cut our your mannalas, and place on your lined baking sheet. Place in the chocolate chips for the eyes and one for the mouth.

Cover the mannalas with a slightly damp cloth and let raise in a warm place, free from drafts, again for 30 minutes.Preheat convection oven to 430F/220C.

Brush mannalas with the egg yolk and milk mixture then place in the oven and reduce oven temperature to 390F/200C.

Bake for about 15 minutes.

The mannalas should be golden brown. Enjoy!