By Karen Parr-Moody
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – European bakeries are filled with a sweet array of yeast-raised breads during the Easter season. The English have their hot cross bun topped, traditionally eaten on Good Friday, and the French have their brioche baked with raisins and fruit. The Germans – not to be outdone – have their own delicious breads from which to choose.
In Clarksville, one can find sweet German specialty breads at Silke’s Old World Breads bakery. So forget Peeps. Instead, hop on over to the bakery at 1213 College Street for something that might be found in a small town near Nuremberg, like the one in which German-born owner, Silke Tyler, was born.
“These doughs are traditionally used throughout the year,” Tyler says of the sweet yeast breads – called “Osterbrot” or “Easter bread” – she uses for her Easter specialty breads.
For Easter, Tyler fashions these sweet breads into fun shapes. There are Easter bunnies, called “Osterhasen aus Hefeteig” in German, that come in cute rabbit shapes. There are also braided Easter nests, called “Osternester aus Hefeteig” in German, that are dotted with raisins and finished with a chocolate “egg” in the center.
“Easter bunnies and nests like this, and in different forms, are found in German bakeries,” Tyler said.
The cafe will also host its annual Easter Egg Giveaway Friday, April 18 and Saturday, April 19. During this event, 350 customers will get an egg that contains a gift certificate for a prize inside. Additionally, loyalty card customers will receive a 10 percent total discount on those same days on purchases for which their 5 percent discount usually applies.
For more information, call the bakery at 931-552-4422.
Silke’s also sells braided Easter nests, called “Osternester aus Hefeteig” in German, that are dotted with raisins and finished with chocolate “eggs” in the center./Photo by Silke Tyler
Karen Parr-Moody began a career as a New York journalist, working as a fashion reporter for Women’s Wear Daily, a beauty editor for Young Miss and a beauty and fashion writer for both In Style and People magazines. Regionally, she has been a writer at The Leaf-Chronicle newspaper and currently writes about arts and culture for Nashville Arts magazine each month.