Ten days ago my friend Sarah handed me a tupperware box and a sheet of instructions. In the tupperware box was a living and breathing Herman. Let me explain, Herman is a starter for a cake, a bit like a sourdough starter. You sit him on the sideboard in a large bowl and stir him daily, (talking to him is optional), and feed him occasionally. After ten days of love, care and chatting you add more delicious things to him, pour him into a cake tin, put him in a hot oven and then eat him. Poor old Herman. There is still some of the original starter though for you and two of your friends, so don’t feel too bad for Herman, he lives on.
I love the concept of Herman and I wonder how old my starter is and where it originated and how many people have lovingly tended to him in their kitchens and enjoyed his cakey loveliness.
My spare Hermans are going to my friend Nichola and my niece (the latter doesn’t know about it yet, so I hope she is ready for some Herman love).
If you would like to start your very own Herman so that you can spread cake happiness this is how:
460g plain white (all purpose flour)
500ml warm milk
230g sugar
90ml warm water
2 tbsp easy bake yeast
Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl, cover loosely with a clean tea towel (it will need the wild yeasts in the air to stay alive), and place in a warm place.
Once you have your starter, either your own or one from a kind friend then you need to follow these instructions.
Day One
Make sure Herman is in a large bowl, loosely covered with a clean cloth and in a warm place
Day two and three
Give Herman a good stir with a wooden spoon
Day Four
Herman needs feeding. Add the following ingredients:
1 cup (120g) plain (all purpose) flour
1 cup (225g) caster sugar
1 cup (225ml) milk
Stir Herman well and cover again with his cloth.
Day five, six, seven and eight
Each day give Herman a good stir with a wooden spoon
Day nine
Herman needs to be fed again so repeat the ingredients from day four and give him a good stir.
Divide the mixture into four portions, save one portion for making the cake on Day 10, give two portions away to friends and save one portion so you can make Herman again in ten days time.
Day 10
Make Herman into a delicious cake.
You will need to add:
1 cup (225g) caster sugar
2 cups (240g) plain (all purpose) flour
2 eggs
two-thirds cup (150ml) cooking oil (I used groundnut)
2 heaped tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cooking apples, peeled, cored and chopped
Then you can add any of the following:
2 tsp cinnamon (I did)
2 tsp mixed spice
¼ cup (40g) nuts (I added hazelnuts)
1 cup (150g) raisins or sultanas
½ cup (60g) chopped chocolate (I did but won’t next time, it just isn’t to my taste with the apples and the cinnamon)
pineapple chunks, cherries, or anything else that takes your fancy.
Mix everything together well, pour into a large greased tin (my instructions say a large roasting tin, I used my cake tin that measures 26cm x 26cm)
Sprinkle ¼ cup (80g) melted butter and ¼ cup (3 tbsp) soft brown sugar over the top of the cake and place in a preheated oven at 180°c, gas mark 4 of the middle shelf of the baking oven of the Aga for 35-45 mins until it feels springy to the touch.
Leave to cool in the tin for ten minutes and then turn out onto a wire rack. Taste the love in every bite.
Thank you Sarah for giving me Herman.
Sounds so intriguing. Could I use some of my sourdough bread starter to make cakes do you think?
Ooh Flavia, do you know I don’t have the answer to that question. I guess the starter for your sourdough isn’t as rich as this one, with its milk and sugar. But you could compensate for that in the recipe perhaps. Otherwise it just wouldn’t be so sweet. But actually my answer is that I have no idea. If you try it let me know. If anyone else has an answer to this question please let Flavia know.
Why is it called a Herman?
It’s a good name for a cake though. Spread the Herman love!
Hi VBB, I am not sure, other than it is called a German Friendship Cake, so presumably Herman the German!?
Ooooo your cake looks so yummy!
It is! Get a starter going immediately.
Herman looks delicious Kath. I put lumps of marzipan in mine
Ooh yes! Are you posting about it? Hope so. x
Sorry to be the doom-monger here. Herman lived with me once. I loved him too. But really, how many cakes can a family eat? And how many friends want to be given their very own Herman? Not many in my experience. Shh. Don’t tell anyone. I went on holiday eventually, and ‘forgot’ to have him lovingly looked after…….
Now the living breathing presence of a sourdough starter is something different. I fostered one of those for simply ages, back in the days when I too had an Aga. That really was a perfect marriage!
Ha ha, poor Herman! No, you are right and I don’t think you need to feel (too) guilty about letting him die. I think I will make one more because I want to tinker and then I will try to find the whole lot a new home or mine might too face a sad end
.
I stuck my Herman in the freezer, until such time as I’m ready to try him out again. Only trouble is, not sure exactly where he is now or what he’s in!
Oh, I thought you had dug him out again. Oh well, you will find him one day when you defrost that soup that you thought was in there
Very interesting idea. Something fun for the winter. Enjoy.
I read about Herman in an online newspaper….and I did wonder how many friends you could manage to give some to, before they were giving some to each other! I’d love to try making one cake at least, though….it does look truly delicious! Does it have a bit of a tang, like sourdough bread? Is the texture different because the flour has been worked on? I suppose the only way to find out is to make my own starter as you are too away to get a Herman from!
Hi Wendy, it doesn’t have a noticeable tang. It is very moist, with the addition of the apple and the butter poured on top before it goes in the oven. I wish I could send you some, but I think he might have died by the time he gets to Kuala Lumpur.
I just love your website!
Aw thank you Lorraine, I hope you keep coming back.
I am totally loving this concept and think I may need to start my own Herman. The cake looks mighty fine too so its good to know that there is a lovely treat at the end of it for everyone too ;0)
Do it, do it! I want to know what you think.
This looks yum, except I would have to change the name – I knew someone once called Herman and friendship was in short supply! Lol.
Ha ha, well in that case you have to change the name!
I have never heard of a cake starter before – thanks a million for sharing!
Thanks BVG
I have read about Herman but have never come across a recipe before using a starter to make a cake. He must be worth it, your cake looks delicious. He does seem to need a lot of attention though!
Just cooked my second Herman (a cousin of your one I think) and it went down really well with the family again. Bit of a problem with 3 year old helper delaying me a bit, leaving me with not quite enough cooking time before the school run. I cooked it for 30 mins and then had to turn off the oven and go out. Very slightly stodgy in the middle as a result but I think I got away with it as it’s a moist cake anyway. Boys had it for pudding with Custard.
I’m going to do one more then put him into retirement as it’s a bit of a faff (for me) after a while. I think what I need is a Herman replica recipe that I don’t need to plan 10 days in advance. Needs apple, raisins, cinnamon and brown sugar and butter on the top. Any suggestions?
Ah Simon, I recognise a challenge when I see one. I will give it some thought and present you with an alternative. By the way, I can’t believe that particular three year old os any trouble at all.
OK, make me a Whisky and Honey Cheesecake and you can have that particular three year old. I know you like a challenge!
All is well Kath? You’re very quiet (which is maybe a bit rich coming from me these days)
Aw thanks for caring VBB. All is well. I have been cooking and baking but just things that are already posted here. I am trying to reduce some inches from the growing waistline so baking has been limited to the kids’ favourite things which I have invariably already posted about. I am working on a cake though and will post again soon I promise. xx
I admit my face fell when my friend Emily thrusted a plastic tub of yeasty smelling goo at me. Herman had a bumpy ride home in the footwell of my car and is currently festering on a window sill. I admit to a certain amount of trepidation but your yummy picture fills me with hope. I shall definitely try the nuts etc. Lovely website Kath, keep up the good work X
Hi Kath
Glad you like Herman, I love him because even I can get a perfect cake every time, no matter what I put in it. I am going to try a cherry and almond/coconut one next but will leave out the cinnamon. Enjoying yours and everyones tips
Sarah