Baur’s Confectionery and Restaurant - Denver, Colorado

When I was growing up in Denver my grandparents often took me to the Baur Confectionery Company Building that housed the favorite Baur’s Confectionery and Restaurant, located at 15th and Curtis Streets (1512 Curtis Street). I loved the candy (Old Fashions were one of my favorite). But my absolute favorite thing from the restaurant was the Deviled Crab. Luckily I have the recipe:

Baur’s Famous Deviled Crab

3/4 cup enriched flour

2 cups coffee cream

1/2 cup butter

Bread crumbs

2 egg yolks

4 teaspoons chopped parsley

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon celery salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 pound flaked crabmeat

Method of preparation:

The enriched flour, coffee cream and butter make the basic sauce from which the crab is made. Follow the procedure of making a smooth paste of the flour and cream then heat slowly until warm, then add the butter. Cook this cream base until thick. Stir constantly. Add some of this hot mixture to slightly beaten egg yolks, then stir in the remaining hot mixture and add the other ingredients.

Chill two to three hours and then shape into portions, either patties or croquettes. Dip into fine bread crumbs. Allow the crab portions to warm to room temperature. The crab portions are deepfat fried at 350 degree until a golden brown. 

Absolutely delicious!

Otto P. Baur, who was a German immigrant, established the Baur Confectionery Company in 1871. In 1891, Baur moved the confectionery to 1512 Curtis Street and the company quickly emerged as an innovative and successful purveyor of candies, cakes, and other confectionery items. Baur reportedly invented the ice cream soda, by substituting ice cream for cream and combining it with seltzer water.