German Desserts

Black Forest cherry cake is a popular German dessert consisting of chocolate sponges that are coated in whipped cream and dotted with kirschwasser-infused cherries. Some varieties use the kirschwasser brandy to soak the chocolate layers or to ligh... READ MORE

This traditional German treat is mainly associated with Christmas and winter holidays. The term lebkuchen covers a wide variety of different types of honey or ginger-flavored cookies which are traditionally baked on oblaten (thin... READ MORE

This rich, silky egg custard is thickened with gelatin and combined with whipped cream. It is traditionally served cold, and is usually garnished with pieces of fresh fruit or drizzled over with sweet sauces. Although its origins are quite unclear... READ MORE

German-style cheesecake is a traditional dessert consisting of a thin layer of shortcrust pastry that is topped with a creamy combination of quark cheese, eggs, and (occasionally) various fruits. Even though käsekuchen is often compared to th... READ MORE

The German version of spit cake, known as baumkuchen, is just one of many similar cakes found throughout Europe. There are various conflicting theories about its origin—one points in the direction of a German town called Salzwedel in the 19t... READ MORE

German apple cake is a delightful combination of dense, buttery dough and sliced, halved, or diced apples. Depending on the region, the cake is often dusted with cinnamon sugar, covered in crumbly streusel, or doused in vanilla-flavored c... READ MORE

Quarkbällchen, meaning quark balls, is a traditional snack that is typically made by combining quark, flour, eggs, sugar, vanilla sugar, and baking powder. Milk, melted butter, cinnamon, lemon zest, and corn or potato starch are also... READ MORE

Spaghettieis is a traditional ice cream that’s made to look like a bowl of spaghetti with tomato sauce and grated parmesan cheese. This dessert was invented in Mannheim, Germany in 1969 by Dario Fontanella, the son of an ice cream making Ita... READ MORE

This classic German cake consists of a creamy filling that is enclosed between two layers of yeasted pastry dough. The cake is topped with a gooey combination of sugar or honey, cream, and slivered almonds, while the fillings typically include swe... READ MORE

The history of Nuremberg's gingerbread is closely tied to the city's role as a crossroad of several European trade routes, a position that bestowed the city with spices from distant countries. Nürnberger Lebkuchen are typically large, round g... READ MORE

Butterkuchen is a simple cake that is mostly sold in bakeries and typically enjoyed with afternoon coffee. In some parts of Germany, it has become such an integral part of life that it’s served for special occasions such as weddings and fune... READ MORE

Mohnkuchen is a German term that encompasses a variety of desserts that are prepared with poppy seeds. Most commonly, it refers to various types of open-faced and streusel cakes that couple the creamy poppy filling with a shortcrust pastr... READ MORE

Zimtsterne are crispy star-shaped German and Austrian cookies. They are made with a combination of whipped egg whites that are mixed with sugar, cinnamon, ground nuts—traditionally almonds with the occasional addition of hazelnuts—and ... READ MORE

Donauwelle is a German and Austrian sheet cake. It consists of two pound cakes, one on the bottom, flavored with vanilla, and one on top of it, flavored with chocolate. Cherries, buttercream, and chocolate ganache are then added to the top, and as... READ MORE

Rote grütze (in Germany) or rødgrød (in Denmark) is a traditional dessert made mainly with redcurrants, which can be combined with other red summer berries such as raspberries, strawberries, blackcurrants, or blackberries. The f... READ MORE

Pfeffernuss is a spiced German Christmas cookie. Although there is no set recipe and the variations appear throughout the country, the dough is usually heavily spiced with several spices. The list typically includes white pepper, which gives the c... READ MORE

These delicious thumbprint cookies are an absolute must for Christmas in Germany. They are traditionally made with a simple shortcrust base that is filled with red currant jam. Interestingly, in some parts of Germany, engelsaugen (angel e... READ MORE

Grießbrei is a traditional Central European pudding based on semolina. The dish is made with milk, semolina, and sugar. It's often flavored with vanilla and cinnamon. The milk is heated, the semolina stirred in, and the mixture is then stirr... READ MORE

This is a special variety of brown, firm gingerbread that has been baked in Aachen since the 1820s. The term printe refers to the use of carved wooden molds into which the dough is pressed during production. Having been regionally protect... READ MORE

Austrian cuisine prides in their old traditional pastry desserts, and the delicate strudels are surely the most popular variety. Even though it is not as famous as the apple filled version, topfenstrudel is regarded as one of Austria’s favor... READ MORE

This German specialty consists of thin strips of shortcrust pastry that are loosely intertwined and wrapped into balls which are deep-fried until golden and crispy. Traditional versions are dusted with sugar, but there are also variations may be c... READ MORE

Also known as little jumper or little knight, springerle is an anise-flavored biscuit made from wheat flour, eggs, and powdered sugar. In the past, the dough used to be leavened with hartshorn salt, but modern day recipes typical... READ MORE

Bethmännchen have been a Christmas staple in Germany for over 200 years. Hailing from Frankfurt, these cookies are made from marzipan dough that is infused with rose water. Before they are glazed and baked, each cookie is decorated with three... READ MORE

Krapfen was probably the first European-style doughnut to appear, followed by similar varieties in other countries. These pastries are traditionally prepared with leavened dough that is deep-fried until golden and crispy on the outside, while they... READ MORE

Anispläzchen are traditional German Christmas cookies. As the name suggests, the cookies are flavored with aniseed, and may optionally incorporate cinnamon. Although other ingredients include only eggs, sugar, and flour, the unique technique ... READ MORE

This traditional bread pudding comes from Swabia and is made with pieces of stale bread and apples, drenched in a custard-like mixture of milk, sugar, eggs, butter, cinnamon, and vanilla sugar. Everything is combined into a greased baking dish and... READ MORE

Frankfurter Kranz is a classic German cake that originated in Frankfurt and was created around 1735. This cake is known for its distinctive crown shape, symbolizing the city's historical association with the German emperors as the place where coro... READ MORE

This specialty dessert from Saxony is a sheet cake consisting of three individual layers. Yeast dough is commonly used for the base layer, but a thin sponge cake or a pie crust can be used instead. The middle layer consists of a type of custard wh... READ MORE

Flädle is a German pancake consisting of basic ingredients such as flour, eggs, milk or water, sugar, and salt. The thin batter is poured into a lightly greased pan and cooked on both sides, yielding thin and round pancakes which can be both ... READ MORE

Originating in Saxony, quarkkeulchen is made by combining quark, mashed potatoes, eggs, flour, and milk or water, and then shaping the mixture into flat cakes which are fried in hot oil or butter until nicely browned on both sides. This sweet spec... READ MORE

This German variety of the spit cake is sometimes called the king of cakes, as it was served at the courts of German royalty. This layered pastry was invented in the old Hanseatic League town of Salzwedel in Saxony-Anhalt some 200 years a... READ MORE

Wibele is a tiny, sweet biscuits made by combining flour, powdered sugar, egg whites, vanilla sugar, and vanilla flavorings. The biscuits or cookies are baked until golden in color and are recognized for their distinctive shape of a figure-eight o... READ MORE

Ostfriesentorte is a traditional cake originating from Ostfriesen. It's made with a combination of sugar, flour, baking powder, eggs, bourbon, vanilla sugar, salt, and a thickening agent. The yolks and whites are separated, and the yolks are then ... READ MORE

Hausfreunde are classic German Christmas cookies. In order to make them, a few layers of crispy shortcrust pastry are covered with apricot jam and almond paste, then dipped in dark chocolate and garnished with caramelized walnuts on top. The ingre... READ MORE

Magdeburger schmalzkuchen is a small, deep-fried pastry, considered a local specialty in the city of Magdeburg. It usually consists of yeast dough flavored with vanilla extract or vanilla sugar and lemon zest or juice. Typically rectangular or dia... READ MORE

A Bavarian specialty dessert called prinzregententorte is a smooth, chocolate-covered layer cake with a chocolate buttercream filling. The cake is comprised of thin cake layers that are smeared with chocolate buttercream and then finished off with... READ MORE

Kirschenmichel is a buttery German bread pudding enriched with sweet cherries. A common dessert in southern Germany, this sweet treat is typically flavored with cinnamon, cloves, Kirsch liqueur, vanilla extract, or almond extract. Moist and sweet,... READ MORE

Herrencreme is a simple German dessert made with vanilla pudding, whipped cream, and grated bittersweet chocolate. It is usually flavored with an aromatic alcoholic beverage such as rum, whiskey, or cognac. Sweet and creamy, the dessert is typical... READ MORE

A signature specialty of the Krönner Confectionery and Café, Agnes Bernauer torte is a Bavarian almond meringue layer cake filled with coffee buttercream. The cake is comprised of several light and airy almond meringue discs t... READ MORE

Westfälische quarkspeise is a trifle dessert with layers of creamy German quark and whipped cream, tart cherries (such as morello cherries), and crumbled pumpernickel (slightly sweet dark rye bread). Typically flavored with kirsch, amaretto, ... READ MORE

Bergische waffles are traditional German waffles originating from the Bergisches Land area. They’re usually made with a combination of flour, sugar, butter, vanilla, eggs, baking powder, and milk. What differentiates these waffles is that th... READ MORE

Welfenspeise or Welf pudding is a traditional dessert originating from Hanover. The dessert is named after the Welfen or Guelphs, which were once one of the most powerful dynasties of Europe, and their colors are yellow and white, just like this l... READ MORE