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Lesson Transcript

Hello, and welcome to the Culture File: Germany series at GermanPod101.com. In this series, we’re exploring essential information about Germany, German culture and German people. I’m Eric, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 11 - German Cold Dog.
If you say you want a hot dog, everyone knows right away what type of food you’re talking about. But what about if you say you want a "Cold Dog"?
In Germany, there is a cake called "Cold Dog" or Kalter Hund.
Actually, a Cold Dog isn't really a cake at all, since you don't have to bake it. Cold Dog consists of shortbread cookies, Butterkeks, and a cream or Creme made of cocoa and coconut oil. To make a Cold Dog, you take a box-shaped cake pan, or Kastenkuchenform, and make several layers of cookies and cocoa-cream, or Kokosfett until the cake pan is full. Then you put the cake in the freezer to cool off. There are several variants, of course. Instead of shortbread cookies, you can use gingerbread, or you can sprinkle almonds or colored streusel on top.
Previously, a Cold Dog was put in the cellar overnight to cool off, which is why some people called them Kellerkuchen, which means “Cellar cakes.” It is also sometimes referred to as a "Cold Snout" or Schnauze, because the surface of the cake feels like the cold snout of a dog. A totally different name for it is Lukullus. This designation comes from the Roman general Lucius Lucullus. Now you're wondering what a Roman general has to do with a chocolate cake, right? Well, Mr. Lucullus was known for luxurious feasts, and a piece of Cold Dog is likewise quite rich. After all, the cream made from coconut oil is quite high in calories, so each bite goes straight to your hips.
But every once in a while you have to treat yourself, right?
So listeners, how did you like this lesson? Did you learn anything interesting?
What do you think about Cold Dogs?
Leave a comment telling us at GermanPod101.com, and we’ll see you in the next lesson!

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