FAQ's
Here are some of the answers to the most frequently asked questions (so far!). If you have a question which is not answered here, please feel free to e-mail us and we'll get right back to you.
1. What ingredients are used in your schnecken?
2. Are your schnecken (and Hamantaschen) Kosher?
3. I am allergic to nuts. Can I still eat your schnecken?
4. Do your schnecken contain flours with gluten?
5. How should I store my schnecken when they arrive?
6. How many pieces are in a pound?
1.What ingredients are used in your schnecken?
The basic ingredients for our traditional schnecken are flour, eggs, butter, sour cream, sugar, cinnamon, grape jelly and nuts. In our specialty schnecken, we use Smuckers' Apricot Preserves; Smuckers' Goober-Grape peanut butter & jelly combination; and Manischewitz' Apple Butter spread; Nestle's semi-sweet chocolate chips. There are no preservatives or additives used in our schnecken other than those which may ordinarily be used in the ingredients we have identified for you.
2.Are your schnecken (and Hamantaschen) Kosher?
The Schenecken Connection, LLC, is not a Kosher facility and does not produce Kosher foods. While all of the ingredients we use have kosher approvals (symbols), neither our utensils nor facilities are kosher.
3.I am allergic to nuts. Can I still eat your schnecken?
Sorry, but NO! There are pieces of various types of nuts in our schnecken, and all of our goods -- including the Hamataschen -- are prepared and baked in an environment that is NOT NUT-FREE. So if you have (or even think you have) an allergey to any kind of nut you should NOT eat our products.
4.Do your schnecken contain flours with gluten?
The answer is YES, we use wheat flour which contains gluten! Ashley Odell wrote us on 01/23/08: "For those of us with celiac disease -- one out of every 133 Americans -- it's crucial to know which type of flour is used, since flours containing gluten can cause us to experience severe internal damage. Can you please update your info to be more specific? Thank you so much!" Our schnecken, and all of our goods -- including the Hamataschen -- are prepared and baked in an environment that is NOT GLUTEN-FREE. So if you have (or even think you have) an allergey affected by products containing gluten you should definitely NOT eat our products.
5.How should I store my schnecken when they arrive?
Around our house, they never seem to last for more than a day. However, after hiding a couple of batches we found that our schnecken will stay fresh for approximately 7-10 days when stored in a covered container or platter. Our experience in freezing schnecken have not been satisfactory because of the sugar and cinnamon coating on the outside. Update - 01-25-08: We just had the opportunity to check out a pound of traditional schnecken that were frozen in a double plastic sealable bag (one bag inside another) and had excellent results after thawing at room temperature, opening the seal on the iner bag but leaving the seal on the outer bag closed.
6.How many pieces are in a pound?
Making schnecken by hand is a labor of love rather than rocket science, so we can't give you an exact number. There are approximately 22-24 pieces of traditional schnecken to a pound. The Apple Butter, Apricot, Chocolate Chip, and Peanut Butter & Jelly schnecken have a slightly wider variance of approximately 18 to 22 pieces per pound.
Here's what those who have sampled our schnecken are saying about!Break from Tradition!
The traditional schnecken, made with a dough of flour, butter, eggs, and sour cream filled with sugar, cinnamon, nuts and grape jelly, will always be the best.
But when you have a craving to break from "tradition", we have some special schnecken for you.
Try some made with apricot jelly, Manischewitz' apple butter, Smuckers' Goober-Grape (peanutbutter & jelly), or Nestle's semi-sweet chocolate chips!
Check out our Ordering Page for what we have available for you.
The ingredients are simple and always quality: flour, eggs, butter, sour cream, sugar, cinnamon, jelly and nuts. I am often asked for the recipe and people are surprised when I tell them there really isn't one.
Our schnecken are a labor of love, each one carefully made by hand. From making and cutting the dough to spreading the filling to creating the small individual crescent shape, it is all done by look and feel.
After a "featured" role in the movie Bird Cage, appearing with an all-star cast including Robin Williams and Nathan Lane, schnecken have become a cultural icon on YouTube.
The clips are from a scene with Nathan Lane and chocolate chip schnecken called: "When the Schnecken Beckons!"
We want you to enjoy our schnecken as much as our family and friends, after all that is why we started The Schnecken Connection.
So if there is a flavor that you crave, let us know! We will do our best to see if we can make it happen.
Likewise, if you need a special gift serving tray, platter or container, send us an e-mail and we will tell you about some of the options that may be available to fullfil your needs.
The wisdom of King Solomon is often illustrated by his decision in a child custody dispute by ruling that the baby be cut in half - forcing the parents to come to a more practical solution.
To solve the "dilema" of a minimum order of 1 lb. for each flavor of schnecken, we offer "Solomon's Choice." - you may combine 1/2 lb. of two flavors to create a 1 lb. "minimum."
"A wise choice," says the King.