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    Home » Cuisines

    Traditional German Desserts and Pastries

    Published: Aug 28, 2021 · Modified: Oct 16, 2022 by Neriz · This post contains some affiliate links.

    Take a peek into this list of authentic German desserts and pastries, and you are surely bound to find a favorite.  A combination of cakes, cookies, pastries, and even some classic holiday treats!

    Cover image for Traditional German Desserts and Recipes, showing a collage of German sweets and treats.

    A variety of recipes for traditional German pastries and sweets that you can easily do the whole year-round at home — and you don’t even need any special equipment to try them all! 

    IF YOU WANT AUTHENTIC GERMAN RECIPES FOR SAVORY DISHES, THEN YOU WILL LOVE THESE POSTS!

    • Two servings of German Potato Soup (Kartoffelsuppe). Both creamy potato soup servings are garnished with spring onions.
      German Potato Soup (Kartoffelsuppe)
    • Feature image for German Goulash soup, showing the bits of beef and potatoes in a serving.
      German Goulash Soup (Gulaschsuppe)
    Jump to:
    • Homemade Marzipan
    • Traditional German cakes
    • Popular German cookies
    • Authentic German sweets & pastries

    Homemade Marzipan

    How to Make Marzipan (With No Eggs)

    Overhead shot of homemade marzipan cut into shapes, from how to make marzipan post
    Read Recipe Here

    Marzipan is used quite often in making German desserts and pastries.

    Even if it is readily available in your area, making your own is always a better choice because you can control the amount of sugar to use.

    The best part of this German marzipan recipe?  No eggs! 

    Traditional German cakes

    Butterkuchen (German Butter Cake)

    An overhead shot of sliced portion of German Butter Cake, ready for serving.
    Read Recipe Here

    This classic German cake is more of yeasted bread than a cake — but still, light and soft for a bread.

    Topped with bits of melted butter, cinnamon powder, and crunchy almond slices, German butter cake is excellent for mid-day snacks or as a light after-meal dessert.

    Depending on which region of Germany, some skip the almonds and just add the butter and cinnamon mix — either way, a slice (or two) of butterkuchen is a perfect match for coffee or tea.

    Red Wine and Chocolate Cake

    An overhead shot of Red Wine Chocolate cake, with a slice ready to be served.
    Read Recipe Here

    This luscious German cake always screams ‘romantic‘ to me.  

    Red wine and chocolate, how can you possibly go wrong with that combo for a dessert — and in a cake form as well!

    Expect sweet, with slight bitterness with every bite of this easy German cake, especially if you are using dark chocolate in the mix.

    And don’t worry, you can still pair it with a glass of wine.  Enjoy!

    Popular German cookies

    Bethmännchen (German Baked Marzipan Cookies)

    Updated image for marzipan cookiees served with a cup of coffee.
    Read Recipe Here

    Originally from Frankfurt, there is no way you would miss these addictive marzipan cookies when you visit the city’s Christmas market.

    The aroma will entice you to give it a try, and once you’ve tasted it, you’ll surely end up buying the entire bag. 🙂

    Baked marzipan with blanched almonds on top — that’s undeniable almond flavor in every bite. Just heavenly.

    Elisenlebkuchen (German Flourless Christmas Cookies)

    A stack of German Flourless Christmas Cookies (Elisenlebkuchen)
    Read Recipe Here

    Even if these Christmas cookies have originated in Nuremberg, almost every part of Germany has its way of making these flourless cookies.

    Ground almonds, hazelnuts, and tons of spices — yep, every bite of these German cookies will feel like Christmas.

    Oh!  And don’t worry if you think you made too much, they are excellent as gifts as well!

    Authentic German sweets & pastries

    Schokobrötchen (German Chocolate Buns)

    A closet shot of German chocolate buns, served in a bread basket, with an espresso and black coffee.
    Read Recipe Here

    You don’t need to spread butter or jam in these easy German sweets; best to eat them on their own.

    Chocolate chips in deliciously soft buns — not too much that it’s overpowering but just enough to tease your tastebuds.

    Oh, these chocolate buns are excellent with coffee, tea, or a tall glass of milk.

    Apfelküchle (German Apple Fritters)

    Newly cooked German Apple Fritters, served with vanilla sauce.
    Read Recipe Here

    Apples are cut into rings, dipped into batter, and fried to perfection.

    This classic treat is typically served with vanilla sauce, but trust me, sprinkling these German apple fritters with sugar and cinnamon powder is just as delicious.

    Enjoy apfelküchle straight out of the pan — with caution, of course!

    Eiskaffee (German Iced Coffee)

    A tall glass of eiskaffee with chocolate sprinkles, ready for serving.
    Read Recipe Here

    Eiskaffee is a great way to get your caffeine buzz during summertime.

    It’s ice cream mixed with cold coffee and topped with whipped cream.  The best part?  You can pretty much use any flavor of ice cream you love.

    German iced coffee used to be just vanilla, then chocolate, then mocha.  But nowadays, fruit-flavored ice cream is also getting common.

    The possibilities are endless for this easy-to-prepare German summer treat!

    Apfelmus (German Applesauce)

    An overhead shot of a jar filled with cinnamon applesauce, with a teaspoon scooping some out.
    Read Recipe Here

    While I’ve seen apfelmus served as a condiment to savory dishes, I typically see them served as part of sweet dishes.

    The beauty of making applesauce at home is that you can control how sweet (or tangy) you want it to be.

    It’s even easier to do with German applesauce because it’s traditionally prepared with a combination of different types of apples — granny smith, pink lady, jazz apples, etc.

    You do not need to use a particular kind of apple; just use what you have readily available.

    So, give one (or more) of these classic German desserts and pastries, and let me know what you think!

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