25 German Christmas Recipes
As the Holidays arrive, it is a perfect time to explore traditional German Christmas recipes. Christmas in Germany is a magical time, and much of its charm can be attributed to the array of holiday recipes that are prepared during this time. From hearty main courses to sweet, spiced treats, German Christmas cuisine is as diverse as it is delightful. Here, I have rounded up 25 German holiday recipes for you to explore.
Among the recipes are dishes for German Christmas dinner with things like Semmelknödel, or bread dumplings, a staple in German cuisine and a must-have during the Christmas season. Those pair well with Schäufele, a succulent pork shoulder dish that is a popular choice for Christmas dinner in many regions of Germany. Or give traditional Sauerbraten, a marinated roast beef, a try as a main course.
For sides, consider Rotkohl, a braised red cabbage. And you can always add Stollen, a traditional fruit bread laden with dried fruits, nuts, and spices, and dusted with powdered sugar.
Also traditional is Glühwein, a hot mulled wine popular at Christmas in Germany. This warm, spiced wine, often made with cinnamon, cloves, star anise, and citrus, is perfect for chilly winter evenings and Christmas markets. The roundup also includes a non-alcohol German hot punch as an alternative.
And then, let us not forget the German Christmas cookies, sweets, and desserts! In the roundup are recipes for items such as Zimtsterne, cinnamon star cookies, Bethmännchen, which are small marzipan balls adorned with almond halves, Lebkuchen, a traditional gingerbread German Christmas cookie, and Kipferl Cookies, with their distinctive crescent shape.
I hope you enjoy this selection of German recipes for Christmas!
German Christmas Recipes
This curated selection of German Christmas recipes includes main dishes traditional to Germany, side dishes, bread, mulled wine and other beverages, and of course German Christmas Cookie recipes!
Semmelknodel is a German bread dumpling. This recipe is a great for a German Christmas side dish.
Zimmerstern (German Cinnamon Star Cookies) are a holiday staple in Germany. These Christmas cookies are gluten free and made with almonds, lemon, cinnamon, powdered sugar, and egg whites.
The quarkstollen or ricotta stollen is one of the typical Christmas treats in Germany. It is great as a side or try it for holiday breakfast. Another version of Stollen is also featured right below this one.
German stollen is a Christmas staple in Germany. This recipe features marzipan, dried cranberries, and a sweet bread base,. It is adapted from a handwritten German recipe that the author translated into English.
Schäufele is a traditional German pork shoulder roast made from a pig’s scapula. At the holidays, it serves well as main course. Try serving it with Semmelknodel, which is also in this list.
Donauwelle, aka Danube Wave Cake is a traditional German cake that is served year round but is especially popular during the holidays.
Mohnschnecken is a German Poppy seed roll. Serve it as a side bread with your Christmas or holiday dinner!
Apple Sour Cream Kuchen is a German pastry combining apples, creamy sour cream, and a tender cake base. It is a particularly fitting dessert following a traditional German Holiday dinner
Originating in Frankfurt Germany, Bethmännchen are sweetened marzipan-based cookies. They are decorated almonds and a layer of egg yolk.
Lebkuchen or German gingerbread Christmas cookies, are an authentic German Christmas cookie that is spicy and soft. It is common to give these as gifts to family and friends.
For German Sauerbraten recipe beef is marinated for several days in a mixture of red wine, vinegar, herbs and pices. The meat comes out incredibly tender. Serve this a traditional German Christmas dinner main course.
Glühwein is a German mulled wine that is a classic holiday tradition in Germany. You will often find this in Christmas markets in the US. Traditionally made with red wine, this mulled wine is mainly sweet, but also a little tart, and includes spices like cinnamon and cloves. Looking for something without alcohol? check out the Kinderpunsch instead below.
Kinderpunsch is a hot Christmas punch made with fruit juices, tea and spices. It is a holiday tradition in Germany, and is a good alcohol-free choice o serve instead of the mulled wine that is in this list above.
Berliner as soft, fluffy German Jam Doughnuts filled with jam, and dusted with sugar. They are perfect as a German holiday breakfast recipe.
Hazelnut macaroons or Nussmakronen, re a typical German cookies made with only 4 ingredients. They fit well with any collection of German Christmas cookies.
These traditional German stuffed savoy cabbage rolls with minced meat, are a good side dish for your
German holiday dinner.
Franzbrötchen are a German Cinnamon Rolls recipe that' is perfect for breakfast or brunch. They are prepared with a croissant style dough filled with a sweet and spicy cinnamon sugar mixture, Give them a try for Christmas brunch!
Beef roulades are a traditional German main dish. This can also be served in small portions as an appetizer.
Pfeffernüsse cookies are German spiced cookies that are traditionally served at Christmas time in Germany. They are much like gingerbread cookies. However, they are made in bite-size portions and given a heavy coating of powdered sugar.
Vanilla Kipferl Cookies are a traditional German Christmas cookie. They are shaped like crescents and coated well with powdered sugar.
German Spritz Cookies or Spritzgebäck are traditional German butter cookies served at Christmastime. They can be made with a variety of shapes and decorations.
Lebkuchen are traditional German spice cookies made with hazelnuts, almonds, candied orange and spices. They are nice addition to a German Christmas cookie selection.
Hazelnut linzer cookies are a traditional German winter and Christmas cookie This version dresses them up with a bit of jam filling and orange zest.
This traditional German recipe for Rotkohl is a sweet and sour side dish of braised red cabbage with apples, onions, and other simple ingredients. Pair it with any German main dish.
Leberknödelsuppe is a liver dumpling soup that is perfect to serve as an introductory course to your German Christmas dinner.
Last Updated on December 4, 2023 by Carleen
