"Zelten"

This is probably the most traditional sweet eaten at Christmas in Southtyrol. I have never seen it anywhere else than in Southtyrol, Christmas without "Zelten" is a no-go for us. Everybody has an own recipe for "Zelten", this is my grandmas one:

"Zelten"

2 kg sultanas
250 g sundried dates
500 g sundried figs
125 g candied orange peel
125 g candied lemon peel
250 g nuts (preferably walnuts)
125 g pine cernels
juice and peel of 2 oranges
200 ml clear schnapps
250 ml dark rum
sugar
cinnamon
powdered cloves
powdered star anis
500 g bread dough
candied fruit

1. Cut the figs, the candied orange peel and the candied lemon peel into small pieces
2. Cut the nuts into fine pieces
3. Put everything you cut so far into a big bowl, add the sultanas and the dates
4. Add the peel and the juice of 2 oranges and the schnapps
5. Let everything rest for one night
6. Add the rum, cinnamon, cloves and the star anis
7. Add the bread dough
8. Mix everything well with your hands
9. Form the traditional "Zelten", circles that are 3-4 cm thick and of 10-20 cm diameter
10. Decorate the "Zelten" with  nuts and candied fruits
11. Bake the "Zelten" for approximately 1 hour at 220° in the oven

Eat the "Zelten" when they are cold, they last for a couple of weeks, the older they are the better they get.