Oh my, I do love Traditional German Christmas Cookies. We would bake some, but most we would get from my Opa. You see, every year he would carry a suitcase full over or send us a massive package , wrapped in brown paper and tied with twine… we’d open it up and find a treasure trove of Cookies ( Plätzchen), and Chocolates (Schokolade). Mom would keep a plate with a few of them on the coffee table from the beginning of December (well, the first Sunday of Advent) until the 12th Day of Christmas… January 6th. And on Christmas Eve she’d fill up a Bunte Teller for each of us! The best German Christmas cookies are often loaded with spices like cinnamon or ginger, and hold up well. Cookies like Lebkuchen, Spekolatius, Springerle, Vanille Kipferl, Pfeffernusse, and Zimt Sterne.
Traditional German Christmas Cookies
To me… That cinnamon smell, that sweet crunch, that big Bunter Teller of Cookies IS Christmas
I’ve included links to German Christmas Cookie Recipes for some of the cookies and links for ordering others. Enjoy the flavors of a German Christmas with these delicious cookies. You can bake or buy German Christmas cookies, no matter where you are.
Vanille Kipferl
Vanilla Crescents
Vanilla Kipferl might be Traditional German Christmas Cookies, but I think these sweet and crumbly cookies are good any time of year. VanilleKipferl are made with ground Almonds… you can grind them yourself, or buy Almond meal. After baking they are dipped into sugar or vanilla sugar.
They are fairly easy to make… find the Vanille Kipferl Recipe Here
KipferlGermanShop24Original Austrian Vanillekipferl (Vanilla Hazelnut Crescents) – 14 oz
Lebkuchen
A German Gingerbread
Lebkuchen is a type of gingerbread made with a variety of spices and honey. In Nuremberg, there is a guild of German Bakers who keep the recipe for their original Lebkuchen TOP SECRET…. and only cookies baked according to this recipe (with a thin edible wafer under the cookie, and is often dipped in a dark, bitter chocolate) can be called Nuernberger Lebkuchen.
Other types of Lebkuchen exist… plain, with nuts or dried fruits… with jelly filling or plain. Lebkuchen keeps for a long time, so if you have a lot, you don’t have to eat it all at once. Also, I found that one of the bigger cookies is not only delicious, with a cup of coffee, it fills my tummy nicely in the middle of the afternoon.
The Lebkuchen Schmidt Company sells a large tin gift chest every Christmas LOADED with all sorts of Lebkuchen sorten (types). I love it, both for the cookies, and because I’m left with a nice tin when the season is over. But there are loads of other options.
Learn more about Lebkuchen Here–> Lebkuchen
Hexenhaus- Witches Gingerbread HouseGermanShop24
Honig HäppchenGermanShop24Mini-Elisen LebkuchenGermanShop24
Bahlsen lebkuchen PretzelGermanShop24Weiss Assorted LebkuchenGermanShop24
Wicklein Meistersinger Lebkuchen – Triple Sort – Cello Bag
Fine Nuremberg Gingerbread (Oblaten-Lebkuchen) Cookies
Wicklein Chocolate Lebkuchen Hearts With Sprinkles – Brown Gingerbread Holiday Cookies, 7.58 oz
Dominosteine
Dominosteine (Domino Rocks?) are an interesting hybrid between Cookie and Candy. Layers of Marzipan, Lebkuchen and Jelly are robed in chocolate (dark is most common, but milk and white chocolate are also available). These little squares are favorites on German cookie trays!
Domino Steine SelectionGermanShop24
Aachner Milk Chocolate DominosGermanShop24Dark Chocolate DominosGermanShop24
LAMBERTZ Chocolate Aachener Dominos, 250 GR
Magenbrot
Magenbrot is sort of like Lebkuchen… but I actually prefer it. This spiced cookie supposedly helps digestion (that explains the name MAGEN Brot or Stomach bread). Maybe it just helps make room for MORE cookies!
Although in some ways similar to American gingerbread, there is NO ginger in the spice mix. Instead, you’ll find cocoa. The cookies are baked in strips, and then sliced.
Find a great recipe for them here-> Magenbrot
Zimt Sterne
Bake your own Zimt Sterne with this delicious Cinnamon Star Cookies recipe. These cookies are made with Ground Almonds, Egg White, Lemon Zest and lots of Spices… they are GLUTEN FREE!
These little cookies have a very strong flavor that gets better as they age.
Bake Your own Zimtsterne–> Zimtsterne Recipe
Lambertz Zimtsterne Cinnamon Cookies Gift 175gWicklein Zimtsterne Cinnamon Star Cookie – Nuss-sterne German Holiday Cookies – With Nuts & Almonds, 5.29 oz
Spritz Cookies
Spritz cookies got their name from how they are made. In German, the name Spritz means “to squirt”… and you get their shape from squirting or spritzing them through a machine. Spritz cookies are a light, crunchy butter cookie. They can also be made with nuts or chocolate. Bonus points if you dip them into chocolate. You do have to use the machine to get the ruffled edges… but the ultimate shape is up to you. Wreath, bar, or s shape… all are acceptable, and quite yummy.
Find a great Traditional Spritz Cookie Recipe Here–> The Oma Way Spritz Cookies
Spritz cookies got their name from how they are made. In German, the name Spritz means “to squirt”… and you get their shape from squirting or spritzing them through a machine. Spritz cookies are a light, crunchy butter cookie. They can also be made with nuts or chocolate. Bonus points if you dip them into chocolate. You do have to use the machine to get the ruffled edges… but the ultimate shape is up to you. Wreath, bar, or s shape… all are acceptable, and quite yummy.
Butter Rich Spritz Cookies – 4 dozen-Variety shapes, flavors,simply Good and DelectableHoliday Spritz Cookie Tins 6 Dozen
Springerle
Anise flavored German Christmas Cookies… and now also found in other flavors.
Springerle are an Anise flavored (think black licorice) cookie made from an egg white, flour and sugar dough. It is pressed into a mold, or rolled out with a special rolling pin that is carved with shapes or pictures. After baking, the cookies are often painted to enhance the picture.
The recipes for these cookies date back to early Germanic Tribes, and were often exchanged as gifts during the holidays. I’m not a huge fan of Anise … but I LOVE the way these cookies look, and I’ve collected a few of the molds to decorate my kitchen.
Looking for a simple German Anise Cookies Recipe? Try this one Springerle
1 Dozen Springerle Cookies/ Christmas Cookies- available in 4 flavorsOne Dozen Springerle Cookies Teacakes/ Christmas Cookies/Tea Biscuits- available in 5 flavors
Spekulatius
Molded Cinnamon Cookies
My dad is NUTS for Spekulatius…. you can’t have enough of them around. These wonderful cinnamon cookies taste so good with a glass of milk or a cup of tea. They are light, crisp and delicious. (In fact, they are so crisp, they are prone to breaking, so don’t throw them around!!)
They come with almond slices baked into the back, but you can find them plain as well.
Bahlsen Butter SpekulatiusGermanShop24Bahlsen Spiced SpekulatiusGermanShop24Spiced Cookies, Spekulatius Authentic German Holiday Cookies by Winternacht 600 grams (pack of 2)
Bake your own Spekulatius
Here is a recipe for these delightful cookies along with the spice anda
Schwarz Weiß Gebäck
Simply translated… Black and White Cookies. Actually you make a chocolate and vanilla dough, then shape them together. My mom usually rolled out each dough flat, laid the chocolate on top of the vanilla, then rolled them up together…. then she’s slice the dough roll to make pinwheel cookies. You can also cut strips to combine into a checkerboard shape.
Find a recipe here–> Schwarz-Weiß Gebäck
Chocolate Vanilla Swirls – 1 Dozen
Linzer Cookies (Linzer Augen)
Linzer Cookies are really Austrian, but they have found there way onto so many German Cookie plates, that I decided that they needed to be included in this list. These delicious sandwich cookies are made from the same dough as the famous Linzer Torte, but are put together a bit differently (The cookies are baked separately, the bottom cookie is topped by jam, and a same sized cookie with a hole or “eye” in it… the Torte is baked all together). The dough is made with a combination of flour and almond flour, to make them light and crisp. The added lemon peel adds a wonderful flavor. Traditionally they are filled with Black Current preserves, but you can use Raspberry, or whatever flavor you like. (I’ve even filled them with Nutella!)
I have a great memory of my mom making these cookies every year. She always used her wedding band to cut that circle in the top cookie dough.
Follow this link for a great recipe for Linzer Cookies
Buy Linzer Cookies
10 Delicious Austrian Linzer Tart Cookies – customized for any occasionMy Dad’s Cookies® 3 pack of Raspberry Linzer (3 6oz Packages)
What are Pfeffernüsse?
Are they Really Made from Pepper and Nuts?
German Pfeffernusse Cookie Recipes vary… some are made with ground almonds or walnuts, but most commercial brands are nut free. They are loaded with different spices, like cloves and cinnamon, but not necessarily pepper.
Pfeffernüsse (Pfeffernusse Pronunciation – Feffer nu sa) are really hard when they are first baked… best to dunk them…. but they soften up as they age, and get better and better. Often they are rolled in powdered sugar, but they are also dipped in chocolate. I love the commercial ones that are sealed in a sugar glaze… mmmmm
If you want to bake your own, here is a Traditional Pfeffernusse Recipe
Buy Pfeffernüsse
Hermann the German – Pfeffernusse Cookies Glazed with Icing, 7oz (200g)My PanierHermann the German – Pfeffernusse Cookies Glazed with Icing & Dark Chocolate, 7oz (200g)My Panier
PfeffernusseWicklein Pfeffernusse Iced Gingerbread Cookies 7ozLAMBERTZ Pfeffernusse, 150 GR
Printen
Printen are a type of Lebkuchen.. but they have a slightly different texture. Originally these cookies were made with imported American Wild-Flower honey in Belgium, but the recipe reached the city of Aachen, where bakers happily made it their own. Using honey made the cookies chewy and extra sweet. Sadly, Napoleon cut off their supply, so they switched up to beet-sugar. The spicy flavor comes from cinnamon, clove, aniseed, spices, ginger, coriander, and cardamom, but the exact recipe for Aachen Printen is protected by the Protected Design Origin. What I like about them is the bite of crystal sugar that is baked in to each cookie. Like a sweet surprise.
You can buy Printen plain, or dipped in dark chocolate (YUM). It’s even possible to get them dipped in Chocolate and NUTS. (soooo good)
Find a recipe for Printen HERE—> Printen Recipe
Fine Chocolate Aachner PrintenGermanShop24
Aachner Milk Chocolate covered Printen with AlmondsGermanShop24Hazelnut Dark Chocolate Covered PrintenGermanShop24Honey PrintenGermanShop24
Lambertz Aachener Krauter Printen – German Holiday Cookies, 7.1 oz
Cookie Mixes
Can’t decide? Get all of your favorites …
Bahlsen Cookie Tin 2023GermanShop24Bahlsen Cookie Tin 2023GermanShop24
Lambertz Christmas Market Gingerbread Assortment 1.1 Pound/500 gSpecially Selected Imported German Continental Cookie Assortment 14 Varieties (Bahlsen Lieselotte Collection (6-Pack) – Variety Pack of Bahlsen’s European Chocolate Biscuits & Wafers: Ohne Gleichen, Choco Wafers, Choco Leibniz, Waffeletten – 6.1 oz boxesBahlsen Delice, Deloba, and Butter Leaves Sampler (3 Pack) | 3 classic butter biscuit flavors | Indulgent varieties of European flaky, buttery goodness (3.5 and 4.4 ounce boxes)Lambertz German Pfeffernusse and Chocolate Cookies from Germany, 4 varieties Including Pfeffernusse, Dominos, and Zimtsterne with Frohe Weihnachten Stick-on gift tag
Traditional German Christmas Cookies Recipes
Christmas Baking: Traditional Recipes Made Easy
Christian Teubner’s book assembles all of the traditional German Christmas Cookies in one place.
The recipes are all easy to follow, and are adapted for American Measurements.
If you want to bake authentic German Christmas cookies, and can’t read German, this book is a great tool. Read a more detailed review here—>>> Christmas Baking:Traditional Recipes Made Easy
Christmas Baking: Traditional Recipes Made Easy (English and German Edition)
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Other Great German Baking Books
Baking Just Like Oma: Traditional German Recipes for the Home BakerThe German Baking Book: Cakes, Tarts, Breads, and More from the Black Forest and Beyond
