Are you trying to find the best German desserts? We’ve rounded up German dessert recipes that are sure to inspire you. The real question is, which dessert recipe are you going to make first?
Germany has a wide variety of traditional baked goods and sweets.
No doubt Germany has deep roots in creating the best dessert, pastries, and sweets worldwide.
But, honestly, a few of the best German desserts we already know and love to eat without knowing the origin, like marble cake.
It is surprising, isn’t it?
We just had to come up with a list of their most delicious and indulgent German sweets and German dessert recipes to understand how they have such indulgent desserts.
Thus, we have hunted down the internet and tried these 30 tantalizing German desserts that will become the star of the show.
We are drooling over Sweet German Dumplings With Vanilla Sauce, the always-classy Apple Strudel, the red-gold and cream-filled beauty Bienenstich (bee-sting cake), and the Blushing Maid, made with pumpernickel bread!
Keep an eye out for #28 because this classic cookie’s aromatic flavors will intrigue you…
So stick with us to learn more about these German pastry recipes, some unique to you, and some tried and true!
1. Schnecken
The schnecken or Sticky German Cinnamon Buns is one of the authentic German desserts.
In German, schnecken refers to a snail.
That’s why these buns look like snails because of the cinnamon, sugar, and butter coils in them.
This German dessert is also topped with sticky sauce and nuts, which makes them super-indulgent in every bite.
Neapolitan ice cream is a trendy German dessert enjoyed around the world.
In Germany called Fürst Pückler Eis, this has three different flavored ice creams: chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.
Each ice cream flavor is delicious on its own and perfect together as well.
The Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte or the black forest cake is another most loved dessert cake globally with a German origin.
The chocolate cake base with cherry filling and whipped cream is heavenly, and the true beauty of the cake is the chocolate shavings.
You might need some patience when making this cake because it can take you about six hours to bake and a long trip to the grocery for its ingredients.
4. Krapfen
Everyone loves donuts, either it is a traditional hole in the middle or a jelly-filled one.
The Krapfen is a German jelly-filled soft, pillowy donut that will make you fall in love with it on the first bite.
After that, you can use any jam and jelly according to your taste to fill in your doughnuts, and it will still be the star of the show.
Apfelstrudel or apple strudel is a flaky pastry stuffed with apple filling.
This German pastry is often dusted with confectioners sugar and served with vanilla ice cream.
Apple Strudel is pure bliss and so easy to make from scratch (if you start with a premade puff pastry, naturally, but this recipe does provide the dough recipe).
And prep your golden raisins, rum, apples, lemon juice, cinnamon, sugar, almonds, and vanilla extract for your filling.
Afterward, start assembling your Apple Strudel and bake!
6. Plum Cake
Pflaumenkuchen or Plum Cake is a favorite sweet treat in Germany to have with a hot coffee or tea.
It also has a crumbly texture with a layer of tangy tart plums.
This dessert is a nice addition for tea parties and midweek desserts.
7. Bienenstich
Fun fact: Bienenstich literally translates into bee-sting.
This treat is more the texture of a danish or pastry than a cake that many of us here in the US are familiar with. With a decadent topping of sliced almonds, rich butter, honey, a bit of sugar and a dash of salt, this dessert is truly a magnificent creation.
Out of the oven as a gorgeous red-gold and filled with luscious pastry cream, this one is on our must-try list!
8. Lebkuchen
Lebkuchen is a sourdough ginger cookie with a variety of toppings.
It is one of those famous Christmas treats in Germany that date back to the 14th century.
The Lebkuchen cookies have a complex flavor profile with orange peel and many of the German traditional staple ingredients.
Indeed, a satisfying choice for your next celebration.
9. Rote Grütze
Rote grütze is a red berry pudding and jelly.
Different regions in Germany use “red” berries for this pudding.
However, the traditional recipe calls for red currant and raspberries.
This pudding is also very easy to make at home, and you can use frozen berries if you can’t find any fresh berries.
But when it is served with ice cream, the sweetness and tartness are just perfect.
Look: Ice cream pressed out of a spaghetti machine and topped with whipped cream, fruits, jams, and compotes.
What a treat!
This Spaghetti Ice Cream aka Spaghetti Eis is one of the best German sweets that are quick and easy to make.
You can also customize it according to your taste, which means you can add any toppings you want but the common ones include strawberry sauce and white chocolate bits.
11. Dampfnudeln (Sweet German Dumpings With Vanilla Sauce)
Dampfnudeln mit Vanillesauce is also known as sweet dough dumplings with rich vanilla sauce.
This dessert may seem simple, but it is a perfect fit for anyone who prefers a filling but mild-flavored dessert.
The best thing about this recipe is that you can adjust the vanilla sauce according to the level of sweetness your guests want.
Honestly, a clever dessert.
The fruit and quark pastries are so easy and quick to make that you will be surprised.
This German pastry recipe just needs six ingredients and can be baked in no less than 30 minutes.
The recipe also calls for ready-to-bake puff pastry, which can save you time and effort.
Indeed, an ideal choice for sweet tooth and emergency parties.
13. Vanillekipferl
Vanillekipferl are German vanilla crescent cookies dusted with lots of sugar and filled with nuts.
It is super indulgent and literally melts in your mouth, with a sharp and heavenly nutty flavor.
Again these fantastic cookies are ideal for Christmas and easy to make with the family.
14. Baumkuchen
Baumkuchen is also called tree cake because of its multiple rings found in the cake layers.
This cake may seem like a work of art but they just need a few essential ingredients usually available at home.
However, the baumkuchen is very fun to make as well, even though it might be time-consuming.
You’ll love to make it and enjoy with friends and family.
15. Kaiserschmarrn
The Kaiserschmarrn has a root in Austrian and German cuisine.
This German dessert is composed of pancakes with powdered sugar and fruit compote.
The recipe is simple and a quick fix for your sweet craving.
(It looks like pieces of French toast!)
16. Käsekuchen
Käsekuchen is a German cheesecake with lots of fluffiness.
What makes it different from American cheesecake is it’s airy, fluffy, and surprisingly light goodness with all the intense flavors.
The main ingredient for the authentic recipe is quark, but you can use ricotta or any other cheese you want, and it will still be -chef’s kiss-
17. Zimtsterne
Zimtsterne is a star-shaped cinnamon cookie, especially eaten and baked for Christmas.
They are snappy and so light with a complex flavor that you can eat a whole lot of them.
Over the top, these cookies are fun to make as well.
18. Quarkbällchen
Quarkballchen, as the name suggests, are made of quark cheese balls that are fried and then dusted with cinnamon.
No quark on hand? 😁 You can use cream cheese instead!
They are perfect for snacking and dessert too.
19. Donauwelle
Donauwelle or snow-white cake has a soft vanilla-based cake with cherries.
You will see the different layers of vanilla cream and chocolate, giving it an extra indulgent taste.
Fun fact: Donauwelle means waves of the Danube, which you can see from the design of the cake.
20. Bavarian Cream
Bavarian cream might not seem like a filling dessert on its own but can be eaten with fruits and as a pudding.
This tasty and sweet cream has sharp notes of vanilla, which sounds delicious with tart fresh fruits like cherry and raspberries.
21. Eiskaffee
Eiskaffee is a German cold coffee dessert drink often enjoyed with quark fried balls (#18) and cakes like the Bienenstich aka bee-sting cake (#17).
It has the deliciousness of coffee and cocoa topped with cream.
This recipe is ideal for kicking back in summer weather.
The German Rehruecken Cake is also called chocolate almond cake, and translates to saddle of venison.
The cake is shaped like a log with a melted chocolate coating and dressed in almonds.
It is a vibrant celebration of chocolate.
The glazed German fruit flan is like a fresh fruit tart, a “rimmed, lemon-scented sponge cake,” according to Give It Some Thyme.
It is surprisingly light and well balanced with the fruits it’s topped with.
The flan is ideal for tea parties and picnics—such an eye-popping presentation!
Zwetschgenknoedel is a potato and plum dumpling.
The contrast of sweet and savory is very unique and well balanced to become one of the best German desserts.
All you need is a few ingredients like russet potatoes, all-purpose flour, salt, prunes, breadcrumbs, unsalted butter, sugar, and cinnamon.
Hm, prunes you say? Prune juice—the drink of warriors!
Let’s do this!
25. Blushing Maid
Blushing Maid is one of the most fun authentic German desserts in our list!
And it’s hard to beat how easy it is to put a trifle together.
It is a trifle like raspberry dessert with lots of creams, chocolate, and pumpernickel, the traditional German bread.
This recipe is highly customizable. No dark bread like pumpernickel around? You can use chopped brownies instead for a sweeter finish.
The German coconut macaroon (a lightly sweet, chewy cookie) is for someone who loves a lot of nutty, earthy coconut in every bite.
It typically has a crisp outside with a soft coconut crumb.
Not to be confused with the macaron, a layered, crisp confection with a filling, macaroons are a popular and common German sweets that you might see a lot of in German bakeries around Christmas.
Keep tightly closed in an airtight container as they can go stale
27. Linzer Cookies
This festive cookie is an almond-flavored shortbread, made with jam.
It’s a children’s favorite!
These cookies are easy and fun to make.
28. Pfeffernusse
Pfeffernusse are German “pepper nut” cookies.
Honestly, cardamom and anise are used as flavorings, and yes, some pepper, too.
Dense with a strong anise (licorice) flavor this “Feffer-Noose” recipe is definitely a lovely Christmastime dessert.
29. Sacher Torte
The Sacher torte is also an Austrian and German dessert.
It is more like a super-rich dark chocolate cake, and it is often served as a novelty in different regions of Germany.
The cake is delicate yet so delicious that you’ll want to make it for every occasion.
30. German Nut Rolls
The German nut rolls are like cinnamon buns but made with nuts and a simple glaze.
The soft dough with notes of cinnamon and crunchy nuts is heavenly.
This German pastry is also called nussschnecke and is lovely to have with coffee and tea.
The bottom line
Each dessert recipe in our list is full of fresh and rich flavors, all to appeal to a wide variety of tastes.
We hope you enjoyed reading about these 30 German dessert recipes. Are you ready to spice up the last course of your dinner?
Let us know what you loved (or hated!)
Till then, frohes kochen (happy cooking)!
🍪 Chewy And Moist German Chocolate Cookies 🍪
30 Authentic German Dessert Assortment
Bring Germany to your home with these 30 German Desserts that will satisfy your curiosity and sweet tooth.
Ingredients
- Schnecken
- Neapolitan Ice Cream
- Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte
- Krapfen
- Apple Strudel
- Plum Cake
- Bienenstich
- Lebkuchen
- Rote grütze
- Spaghetti ice cream- Spaghettieis
- Dampfnudeln mit Vanillesauce
- Fruit and Quark Pastries
- Vanillekipferl
- Baumkuchen
- Kaiserschmarrn
- Käsekuchen
- Zimtsterne
- Quarkbällchen
- Donauwelle
- Bavarian Cream
- Eiskaffee
- German Rehruecken Cake
- Glazed German Fruit Flan
- Zwetschgenknoedel
- Blushing Maid
- German Coconut Macaroons
- Linzer Cookies
- Pfeffernusse
- Sacher Torte
- German Nut Rolls
Instructions
- Choose one or more options from our list of German Desserts here!
- Create your new favorite dessert.
- Pat yourself on the back for making food at home!
- Share and comment! Did you make any tweaks so it’s all your own?