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German Christmas CookiesThere are a staggering number of different german christmas cookies. Each has its own distinctive taste and history, and are generally found only during the Christmas season. In Germany they are called Plätzchen or Weihnachtsplätzchen. During the first days of Advent families bake them in such abundance that they can continue to be enjoyed right up until Christmas Day. especially for cinamon and anise loverEvery family has their own favorite recipes; my mother-in-law bakes a huge variety of Christmas cookies, while I tend to bake only a few of my very favorites. If you happen to be fond of cinnamon, anise and all of those wonderful spices that most people associate with the Christmas holiday season, you will simply love these German Christmas cookies.LebkuchenPerhaps the best known of German Christmas cookies are Lebkuchen (in English, gingerbread). Lebkuchen, while not all that easy to bake at home, enjoys great popularity in Germany and is in heavy demand, especially in autumn and winter. For this reason, groceries and discount stores offer Lebkuchen in all manner of shapes and flavors each year from the beginning of October until the new year.SpekulatiusAnother popular German Christmas cookie is Spekulatius. The best one on the market is generally considered to be that made by the venerable Bahlsen company, makers of the beloved Leibniz butter cookie. Spekulatius is another Gingerbread cookie; this one being flat in shape and crispy, with an assortment of Christmas designs stamped on it.Self made christmas cookiesThere are so many other German Christmas cookies though, and you really mustn't deprive yourself of any of them. Best of all, many of them can easily be made at home! Here are a few of the best.AusstecherleAusstecherle is one of my very favorite German cookies. They are best eaten fresh form the oven. In Germany it’s traditional in many families to make the Ausstecherle together with the children. The dough is easy to prepare, and the children are allowed to cut out their own special figures. It’s great fun for the entire family.SpringerleThese have been, and still are, traditional Christmas cookies in Bavaria and Austria for centuries. Springerle are white, liquorice flavored cookies (the distinctive taste comes from the spice anise), made from a simple dough of eggs, flour and sugar. They are either rectangular or circular in shape and usually have a picture or design on the top of the cookie. The images are imprinted with specially carved rolling pins or molds (Springerle presses, or boards).After being baked, the designs are sometimes enhanced with edible food coloring, or even tempera or acrylic paint, since the cookies are sometimes used as decorations rather than as treats. Vanillekipferl (German almond crescent cookies)They are a must have at Christmas here in Germany. My family eat them up almost as fast as I can make them! These are small, crescent shaped cookies flavored with vanilla and dusted with powdered sugar. Originating in Austria, these children's favorites are traditionally made at Christmastime.Tip: Pack them in gift boxesWhether you bake these cookies yourself or purchase them from a German bakery, wrap them up, pack them in gift boxes and give cookies as gifts to friends and family. Bake them, eat them, enjoy them, but mind the calories! These German Christmas cookies are just so good that it can be difficult to stop eating them.Enjoy, and Merry Christmas! Return from "this" page to German Cookies Overview Return from "german christmas cookies" page to Best German Gifts |