13 Christmas specialties that are the envy of the rest of the world

Created: 11/28/2022, 08:00

By: Sandra Keck

In addition to speculoos and Christmas stollen, there are many other Christmas sweets to buy in German supermarkets.

© Simply Tasty

It's not all sauerkraut and beer

Germany is not only the inventor of the Christmas markets we know and love today, but is also known for a variety of delicious Christmas treats.

Whether Christmas stollen, cinnamon stars or dominoes

– the best-known specialties can usually be found in all supermarkets from September.

A few weeks ago, speculoos and chocolate Santa Clauses could still be stolen from me.

Now, I never walk past the candy aisle when I go grocery shopping without picking up something tasty.

There's just sooo much choice like nowhere else. That has to be exploited, right?

1. Dominoes

Dominoes are a delicious little thing in Advent with gingerbread, fruit jelly, marzipan and chocolate (symbol image).

© imago images / perspective

I love dominoes, which is probably why they're at the top of this list.

The mixture of gingerbread, fruity jelly, marzipan and chocolate also has everything a Christmas treat needs, doesn't it?

2. Speculaas

Popular in many places: The speculoos has its origins in the Rhineland, among other places.

Photo: Hendrik Schmidt © Hendrik Schmidt

You can buy them with or without flaked almonds and they are probably the classic biscuits on every Advent coffee table.

After all, most people like this crispy shortcrust pastry with Christmas spices.

A special mold imprints the pattern on the biscuits.

This is probably where the name comes from: the Latin word "speculum" means mirror image or mirror.

3. Chocolate Gingerbread

Pretzel, star or heart?

No matter what shape, the main thing is that the chocolate gingerbread is filled with a delicious jam.

© IMAGO / imagebroker

It doesn't matter whether it's a pretzel, a star or a heart or small hearts with jam filling: Gingerbread in any shape is inextricably linked to Christmas.

4. Marzipan potatoes

They are among the most popular sweets during the Christmas season: marzipan potatoes (symbol image).

© imago images / Shotshop

Looks like a dirty potato, luckily it doesn't taste like one!

Of course we are talking about marzipan potatoes and they actually only consist of the following three ingredients: marzipan, powdered sugar and cocoa powder.

5. Baumkuchen

Baumkuchen has at least 12 layers.

© Astrid Kopp

Baumkuchen, also known as grill or layered cake, consists of a batter that is refined with marzipan and sometimes rum and baked in layers.

6. Bread of the stomach

In addition to gingerbread, Magenbrot is also a typical Advent pastry.

© IMAGO / imagebroker

Magenbrot is not only very popular at Christmas, but also all year round at fairs.

The unusual name probably comes from the spices contained in the dough, which are easily digestible for the stomach.

7. Winter Almonds

Whether with chocolate, cocoa or cinnamon: spiced almonds should not be missing at Christmas.

© IMAGO / Shot Shop

You simply cannot avoid nuts in any form during the Advent season.

The combination of crunchy nuts, delicate chocolate and Christmas spices is also to die for.

8. Rum Balls

Rum balls are a delicious retro treat.

© wsf-sh/Imago

Rum balls are also called punch balls or simply truffles.

You can make them yourself from just a few ingredients and give them away, for example.

Everyone loves chocolate with a shot, right?

9. Peppernuts

Pfeffernuss are brown gingerbread cookies with lots of spices.

© IMAGO / Panthermedia

Even if pepper is added to the cookie dough in some recipes to make it spicier, the name probably comes from the medieval name for all exotic spices: pepper.

10. Toasted Almonds

The Christmas market "Rodenkirchener Winterzauber" in Cologne impresses with wine mulled wine, roasted almonds and potato pancakes.

© Christoph Hardt/Imago

Did you know that roasted almonds are traditionally prepared in copper cauldrons at Christmas markets or at the fair?

Copper is an excellent conductor of heat and can be heated to high temperatures.

You need a temperature of at least 150 degrees to caramelize the nuts. 

11. Vanilla Crescents

The perfect vanilla crescents melt in your mouth!

The recipe is here.

© Simply Tasty

Or Christmas cookies in general: From vanilla crescents to cinnamon stars, coconut macaroons to butter cookies — we can bake.

12. Christmas Stollen

A piece of Christmas stollen.

© Sebastian Kahnert/dpa-Zentralbild/ZB/Symbolbild

It is rumored that the Christstollen got its name from miners who took the sweet yeast pastry underground – i.e. in the tunnels.

Because of its special composition, the "cake" was always juicy and didn't dry out so quickly. 

13. Santa Claus

At Easter there are rabbits and at Christmas, of course, Santa Clauses and Santa Clauses made of chocolate.

© IMAGO / Eibner

Have been on the supermarket shelves since September, ringing in the Christmas candy season: chocolate Santa Clauses.

They come in all shapes, colors and price ranges and are a must in your boots at least on December 6th (Saint Nicholas Day).

According to Statista, a total of 160 million chocolate Santas were produced and eaten in 2021.

So two for each of us.

Whether as a quick "gift from the kitchen" or just to drink: our simple speculoos liqueur inspires everyone in the run-up to Christmas.

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