23 + Delicious German Cookie Recipes

If you want to bring the spirit of Oktoberfest into your home, why not whip up some deliciously sweet German cookies that the whole family can enjoy.

We all know that the Germans are responsible for some of our favorite savory based recipes, such as bratwurst and sauerkraut, but what about their sweet items? 

Some of you may not know that Germany is also renowned for the delicious sweet treats that they’ve invented, and some of the best recipes from the country involve cookies. 

If you want to make something different for your family this week, simply keep reading, as we take a look at some delicious German cookie recipes you can bake today. 

1. Caramel Gingerbread Cookies

Germans are well known for their love of gingerbread cookies, so if you want to whip up a traditional batch of these sweet treats, all you have to do is follow this recipe. 

This recipe is a slight variation of the traditional gingerbread cookies that we all know and love, and it has a much denser base. They’re also topped with lots of heavenly frosting which just takes these cookies to a whole new level. 

2. German Chocolate Cake Cookies

Germans are also well known for their love of chocolate, which is incorporated into this delicious cookie recipe. This recipe uses lots of ooey gooey chocolate to give it the most delicious consistency possible. 

It blends the consistency of both a cookie and a cake, to give you the most chewy yet crunchy texture possible. 

3. Anisplatzchen

These delicious little morsels give the impression of being two tiered, and are absolutely gorgeous to look at.

The ingredients responsible for this textured appearance is an egg white, which really makes them stand out for their glossiness. 

The primary ingredient in these German cookies is anise, which gives a super licorice based flavor. The batter in this cookie mixture is quite thick, so you’re guaranteed to get a good arm workout whilst making these ones. 

4. Basler Leckerli

You might be surprised to find out that these delicious little treats originate in Sweden, not Germany. They are, however, becoming a traditional cookie to consume in Germany during Christmas time. 

The name literally means “little delicious things”, and we don’t disagree with that statement.

They have lots of warming flavors such as cinnamon, cloves, and citrus, which make these the perfect cookie to consume over the holidays.  

5. Bethmaennchen

If you’re a lover of all things marzipan, then look no further, because we’ve got the perfect cookie for you. They are one of the most popular kinds of cookies eaten in Germany over Christmas time, and it’s not hard to see why. 

They are made using a deliciously gooey homemade marzipan recipe, and are beautifully topped with lots of crunchy and delicious almonds.

We can’t promise that these will stick around for long, because it’s easy to finish the batch in one sitting considering how tasty they are. 

6. Vanilla Crescent Cookies

None of us can resist a vanilla based cookie, and trust us, this is the best recipe we could find for said cookies. 

Although it originates from Austria, this cookie has gradually become an important part of German culture too, and you can find them being served widely in the country. They are cooked with vanilla sugar and a whole host of different nuts. 

The best thing about them is the cute little moon shaped crescent that they’re modeled in. 

7. Hazelnut Macarons

Macarons are a tasty treat that we normally associate with France, but you might be surprised to find that they have German ties too.

Macarons are famously difficult to master, but this recipe is incredibly helpful, and takes you step by step to help you achieve that perfectly gooey yet crunchy texture. 

They’re filled with a really simple sauce too – hazelnut spread. So you don’t need to worry about creating your own fancy filling, just pick up a tub from the grocery store. 

8. Springerle Cookie

Some of you might feel intimidated by the intricate designs demonstrated on these cookies, perhaps thinking that you’ll have to create them all by hand. The good news is – they’re actually incredibly easy to make. 

All you need for this one is a heart shaped cookie cutter, along with a textured rolling pin that has a design all the way around it. Simply purchase these two items, and you too can make these beautiful creations. 

9. Engelsaugen

If you’re wondering what the title of this cookie recipe translates to, it literally means “angel eyes”, perhaps not how we would describe these red, jam centered cookies, but nevermind. 

Despite their befuddling name, they’re absolutely delicious. You can also get creative with the fillings that you use for this one too.

If jam isn’t really your thing, then you can simply replace it with a nut butter or some chocolate spread instead. Some people even pour some brandy into the spread mixture. 

10. German Hazelnut Cookies

If you’re just nutty about nuts, then you simply have to bake these cookies tonight. They’re absolutely brimming with hazelnut flavors, as they’re made from toasted and ground hazelnuts.

They’re incredibly filling as a result, and are sure to satisfy your cookie cravings. 

Just remember to toast the hazelnuts before baking to get that authentic German taste. 

11. Browned Butter Shortbread Cookies

Shortbread cookies are always a massive treat. Buttery, soft, chewy and mild, these cookies are a favorite for many. This teaches you how to make the very best shortbread cookies, and achieve that perfect texture. 

The best thing about these cookies is that they’re so easy to make, and have a very small ingredient list. In fact, you’ll probably already have everything you need in your kitchen. 

12. Hausfreunde

These cookies translate to “house friend”, which pretty much means that they’re going to become a staple of your weekly bakes and become a very fast friend.

If you are somebody who bakes regularly, you’ll probably be able to pull this one off nicely, as it can prove a bit technical to make for beginners.

You essentially sandwich two biscuits together, in between a layer of apricot flavored jam, and some almond paste.

The whole then is then dipped in chocolate, and covered with almond flakes. This one has our mouth watering just thinking about it!

13. Lebkuchen Cookies

Lebkuchen cookies just make us feel all warm and tingly inside. They’re such a heartwarming cookie recipe that’s impossible to resist.

They have lots of warming spice, along with a nutty base, and plenty of vanilla glaze drizzled on top. 

To make this one, you’ll need nutmeg, clove, cinamon, and allspice. The perfect cookies to bake this Christmas season. 

14. Kokosmakronen 

If you just can’t get enough of macarons, then feast your eyes on this recipe, which makes the most delicious little sweet snacks you’ve ever tasted.

This classic recipe is made from shredded coconut, and liquid chocolate which they’re dipped in. 

The key to making successful macarons, as the recipe states, is to keep the temperature of the oven low, as they tend to bake very quickly and can start to burn. 

15. Kipplen

These German cookies are also known as German pecan snowballs, which we think is particularly apt, because they look just like cute little snow covered balls.

They have a very crumbly texture, along with a super sweet taste to satisfy all of your sugar cravings. 

The key to giving them that classic white look is by simply covering them with powdered sugar, which gives them a snowy appearance. 

16. Mandelhoernchen

The mandelhoernchen is a really difficult cookie name to pronounce, but trust us, these little morsels of deliciousness aren’t difficult to eat.

They combine two of the best things in the entire world – marzipan and chocolate. 

They are baked with a marzipan based, then dipped in lots of ooey gooey chocolate. Absolutely impossible to resist! 

17. German Pepper Nut Cookies

This cookie has played an integral part in Yuletide in Germany for many years, and it’s not hard to see why it’s such a classic. The name of this cookie is rather strange, as it does not actually contain any nuts! 

It does, however, contain an array of strange spice combinations such as star anise, cardamon, and cinnamon.

We will admit that it’s a peculiar combination, but let us assure you that it works! If you really want to taste a piece of German culture, then you simply have to bake these cookies! 

18. Almond Biscotti

Although these delicious biscuits originate in Italy, as we’re all aware, they are enjoyed almost everywhere in Europe, as well as the US.

If you want to try making some delicious biscotti yourself, but aren’t sure where to get started, you can try this recipe, as it takes you step by step. 

Light and crispy, it has beautiful aromas of almond and oranges. The light citrus flavor really adds to the freshness of this cookie. 

19. Vegan Kolaczki

These cookies are another recipe which doesn’t actually originate from the country, but is enjoyed by German people.

It actually comes from Poland, where it is enjoyed all year round. It’s very easy to make, and has lots of flakey dough which just melts in your mouth. 

Folding these little cookies can also be quite therapeutic, and they’re overall very enjoyable to bake.

As you can see from the title, they’re also vegan friendly, which is perfect if you’re trying to cut down on your dairy intake. 

20. Nut Corners

Another nut based German cookie recipe that is absolutely delicious, in fact, these might be our nuttiest yet (see also ‘40 Easy Cookie Recipes We Can’t Live Without‘)!

They’re incredibly flaky, crunchy, and buttery all at the same time. If you really want to make this dish as tasty as possible, you can dip it in some dark chocolate for added richness. 

21. Chocolate Cornflake Cookies

If you’re looking for a simple yet delicious German cookie recipe that you can make in the comfort of your own home, with ingredients that you already have, then this one is perfect.

Chances are, you probably already have a box of cornflakes sitting on the counter that needs using up, if this is the case, then you have to make these German cookies. 

All you need in addition to the cornflakes, is some chocolate that you can melt, along with some coconut flakes.

The best thing about this cookie recipe is that it only takes 45 minutes to both make and bake. What could be better? 

22. Amish Sugar Cookies

You’ll often find recipes for these classic cookies around the holiday season, not only are they super tasty, but they’re also incredibly colorful and fun to look at.

It is one of the most well loved, and well known desserts in Germany to this very day. 

The cookie dough is incredibly moist and moreish, and you can give these a little added sweetness simply by drizzling some icing sugar on them.

They make the perfect cookie base for decoration, and are a super fun one to make with the kids over the holiday season. 

23. Pignoli Cookies

We’ll bet that you’ve never in your life witnessed any cookies that look as intriguing as these ones. They are incredibly chewy, and have an almond base that gives them a deliciously sweet nutty flavor. 

The key to making these cookies appear as they do in the photograph, is to load them with pine nuts. 

24. German Twists

This is another German cookie recipe that looks really difficult to make, yet is incredibly simple. These twisted cookies are made from delicate layers of pastry.

Although it’s an easy recipe to follow, you’ll need to set aside some time for these ones in order to prepare all the layers. 

Bring these out at a dinner party to really “wow” your guests with your amazing baking skills. 

25. Spekulatius

These are popular in Germany and the Netherlands, being a sweet treat that is adored in both of these countries. They’re normally prepared on Christmas Eve and then eaten on Christmas Day. 

If we were to try to tell you what these biscuits taste like, we’d probably say that they’re most similar to Biscoff cookies, so if you’re a fan of these, you’ll most certainly enjoy this recipe.

These cookies go really well with a freshly brewed cup of hot coffee. 

26. German Cinnamon Star Cookies

We couldn’t finish off our list without mentioning these classic German cinnamon cookies. They’re probably the German cookie that we’re most familiar with.

If you want to recreate these star shaped cookies this holiday season, or at any time of the year, this recipe shows you how to make an authentic version. 

Great for handing out to guests at parties as little treats, these cookies also last quite a long while because of the sturdy base. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Now that we’ve given you some delicious German cookie recipes to get you started on your journey to doughy heaven, let’s take a look at some frequently asked questions that some of you had. 

What Is The Most Popular German Cookie? 

If you hadn’t already guessed, we can safely say that the most popular cookie eaten in Germany today is Gingerbread. It’s a sweet treat that we’re incredibly thankful for.

Eaten primarily at Christmas time, you’ll see lots of Gingerbread based snacks in the markets in Germany over the holiday period. 

Are Snickerdoodles German? 

Some of you may have wondered whether or not snickerdoodles originated in Germany, after all they have a name which seems to suggest that they may not have originated here.

The answer is – yes. They do seem to have originated either from the Dutch region or in Germany. 

It is difficult to trace exactly where they originate from, because they are so old, first being introduced in the 18th century. Another thing people aren’t able to work out is where exactly they received such a strange name. 

What Is The Most Popular Christmas Dessert In Germany? 

If you aren’t convinced of how much German people adore cookies after reading this list, then this will surely prove it. 

The most popular dessert in the entirety of Germany isn’t a cake, or a chocolate, but rather, a cookie! This cookie is actually one that makes an appearance on our list, and is called a Gebrannte Mandeln, which literally means “cinnamon sugar almonds”. 

Cookies that are made from crunchy almonds, and then dipped in lots of sugar flavored cinnamon, are often sold in German markets, where they are wrapped up in little cones and served.

If you do manage to visit Germany this Christmas time, make sure that you sample these cookies. 

What Do Germans Eat On Christmas Day? 

Now that we’ve covered lots of the most popular dessert items in Germany (all cookies), let’s take a look at what a traditional German Yuledie meal consists of. 

For Christmas day, Germans typically have a very meat heavy based dish.

The centerpiece will either be a roast, goose, duck, or rabbit (for more goose recipes, see here). On the side, the meat will be accompanied by sausage and apple stuffing, along with potato dumplings and juicy red cabbage. 

Final Thoughts

We hope that you’ve found our list of German cookies extensive enough so that you can choose a few recipes to make this week.

Whether you feel like making something fairly simplistic, or something more advanced, we are confident that there will be something here for you to try. Simply choose your favorites, and get baking!