Gentse mastel

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Preparation info
  • Makes

    12

    buns (see )
    • Difficulty

      Easy

Appears in
Dark Rye and Honey Cake: Festival baking from the heart of the Low Countries

By Regula Ysewijn

Published 2023

  • About

Mastellen, huubkes or hupkes are round dimpled or crossed cinnamon buns. Since medieval times the bun was consecrated by a priest and eaten as a preventative against hydrophobia (rabies) on the feast of Saint Hubert on 3 November. In a magazine from 187915, it was claimed that blessed bread would never rot. If no bread was blessed there would be a lot of rabid dogs that year. The correct way to eat the blessed bread was to ensure