The Feast of St. Ludovicus Rex Bavariae

Ludwig II as the Grand Master of the Order of the Knights of St George. Gabriel Schachinger, Munich, 1887

Wednesday, June 13 is the Feast of St. Ludovicus Rex Bavariae (aka Ludwig II, 1845-1886 e.v.). According to the Invisible Basilica of Sabazius, “Ludwig was the last of the German feudal princes: a romantic dreamer who viewed himself as a divinely sanctioned monarch after the model of his hero, Louis XIV, the ‘Sun King’ of France. He was a great patron of the arts, especially of painting, music, sculpture, literature and architecture. He is now most well known for the three lavish palaces he built: Schloss Linderhof near Oberammergau, which boasts a ‘Grotto of Venus’ complete with concrete stalactites and an indoor lake with a boat shaped like a cockleshell; Schloss Herrenchiemsee, a miniature replica of Versailles on an island in the Chiemsee; and Schloss Neuschwanstein, a fairy-tale castle with soaring turrets built atop a mountain crag near Füssen, on the Austrian border.”

In honor of the Swan King, we bring you this ornamental dessert.

Swan cream puffChocolate Cream Puff Swans

Cream Puff Dough

  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon white sugar
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 eggs

Ganache:

  • 4 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
  • 4 ounces heavy whipping cream

Cream:

  • 1 cup cold heavy whipping cream
  • 1 tablespoon white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon confectioners’ sugar, or as needed

See full instructions at Allrecipes.com.

Want to learn more about Ludwig II?

Stephanie

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