Germany is an incredible country to visit for the Christmas holidays. From the beautiful Christmas markets to the delicious Christmas treats, Germany is truly a magical place to spend the holidays.
German Christmas cookies (Weihnachtsplätzchen) are more than just cookies; they represent holiday traditions passed down through generations.
The spiced nutmeg, cinnamon, and buttery shortbread are just a few ingredients that make up Germany’s diverse Christmas cookies.
Starting in November, you will find the cookies displayed in bakeries and stores and, eventually, at Christmas markets. It certainly will put you in the Christmas spirit!
Now, because there are so many different German Christmas cookies, it can be a bit overwhelming if you want to find cookies to meet a particular taste, especially if you can’t read German. In this German cookie guide, I’ll go over 13 of the most popular Christmas cookies.
Whether you’re a fan of shortbread or prefer a denser gingerbread, there is surely a cookie on this list that you will love! Don’t forget to pair them with your favorite hot German beverage!
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Zimtsterne
Zimsterne are “Cinnamon stars” and are classic German Christmas cookies. You can find these star-shaped cookies in little packages at bakeries.
They are made with ground almonds and cinnamon and topped with a white sugar glaze or icing. They have a really nice, chewy consistency.
They can be a great gluten-free option.
Spekulatius
Spekulatius are thin, spiced shortcrust cookies with beautiful designs. You can taste the cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom. Truly, a perfect blend of Christmas spices.
My children love these cookies! You can find them at most of the grocery stores.
Lebkuchen (often found in a trio)
Lebkuchen originated in Nuremberg, Germany, and is often called the Nuremberg lebkuchen, and dates back to the Middle Ages. It’s a very popular Christmas cookie.
They are often soft and chewy and filled with Christmas spices. You can find them coated in a few different ways: A sugary glazed, dipped in rich dark chocolate, or covered in coco dust or powdered sugar.
They can also be made with dried fruit and nuts. These are my favorite German gingerbread cookies.
Weihnachtsstollen
Weihnachtsstollen, also known as Christstollen, is more of a German Christmas cake (or fruit bread) than a kind of Christmas cookie. It is such a favorite that I had to add it to my Christmas cookie list!
This traditional fruit bread is filled with candied fruits, nuts, Christmas spices and covered in powdered sugar. You can even find some with marzipan!
Vanillekipferl
Vanillekipferl are Christmas cookies that are very popular in Germany and many other European Countries.
Traditionally, these crescent-shaped biscuits were made with walnuts, but they are now often made with hazelnuts or almonds.
The buttery nut flavor with the vanilla sugar gives a delicious combination!
Pfeffernüsse
Pfeffer means pepper in German. These Pfeffernüsse cookies stand out because they add a little bit of pepper to the uncooked cookie dough, giving it a unique sweet and spicy flavor.
These small, chewy German cookies contain Christmas-warming spices (ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cardamom) and are covered in powdered sugar.
Popular Christmas cookies that can be found year around
Marzipankartoffeln
Marzipankartoffeln “marzipan potatoes” are little potato-shaped marzipan cookies dusted with cocoa powder. They are a favorite during the Christmas season but can be found throughout the year.
When I went to try these cookies, I was prepared for them to taste like potatoes. The name had me fooled!
Bethmännchen
Bethmännchen originated in Frankfurt, Germany, and can often be found in pastry and chocolate shops. It is a hard cookie with a chewy marzipan center, made with almonds and powdered sugar.
It is set apart from other German cookies and decorated with halved almonds. It looks like little pieces of art.
Nussecken
Nussecken are triangle shaped cookies with a shortbread base, with a layer of jam topped with nuts and honey. You can even find them dipped in chocolate.
Butterplätzchen
Butterplätzchen are traditional German butter cookies. Although they can be found year-round, they are perfect for decorating with icing and sprinkles, making them the perfect Christmas cookies to be molded by cookie cutters into different shapes, such as Christmas trees.
They are perfect for baking and decorating with kids!
Heidesand
Heidesand cookies are German shortbread cookies made with brown butter. They get their name from the sand-like appearance.
But the tender texture and sweet buttery taste just melt in your mouth. They are the perfect cookie for a cup of tea or hot chocolate.
Kokosmakronen
Kokosmakronen is one of my favorite German cookies! I can best describe them as a blend of a macaroon and a meringue cookie.
They are chewy on the inside with a sweet, crisp shell. They are dipped in a chocolate glaze, which is my favorite part.
Haselnussmakronen
Haselnussmakronen, from my understanding are similar to the kokosmakronen, but instead of chocolate, they are dipped with hazelnut.
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My Final Thoughts
These traditional German Christmas cookies are so special. The Germans really pride themselves on their love of bread and baking, which is evident in their history, culture, and way of life.
It’s no surprise that they have such beautiful and tasty cookies to celebrate Christmas time. Of course, the traditional cookies and specialty breads can vary depending on the German region.
Truly, spending the holiday season in Germany is an incredible experience for all the senses. If you have the opportunity, I encourage you to taste them all!
These German Christmas cookies are such delicious treats, and the taste can vary slightly from one bakery to the next. These bakeries all have different recipes for the different types of cookies.
Do you have any favorites? Am I missing a favorite that needs to be added to this post? I would love to hear about it!
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