26 Authentic German Desserts

You probably only notice the German desserts around specific holidays when they make their way to aisles in local grocery stores.

German food is notable because of the abundance of potatoes, cabbage, and sausages. However, German food is also well-known for its delicious desserts. And let it be known that German Chocolate Cake is not actually German food. The person who created the recipe had the surname of “German,” and it was named after them

The truth is, German sweets are more than just once-a-year treats that you can make over and over again right inside your home.

The German pastries below are sure to satisfy the sweetest of teeth and become quick family favorites.

Delighting in German desserts is a must for anyone with a sweet tooth. The culinary heritage of Germany boasts an abundant variety of scrumptious creations that are sure to satiate your cravings. As you begin your journey through these mouth-watering confections, you’ll find that German desserts not only have rich and diverse flavors, but also a fascinating cultural significance.

When it comes to German desserts, you’ll come across delightful concoctions that are deeply rooted in history and tradition. With influences from neighboring France, Austria, and Switzerland, these dishes reflect the regional distinctions that contribute to their unique tastes and textures. From flaky pastries and creamy delicacies to fruit-filled delights, your taste buds will be treated to an extraordinary sensory experience.

As you discover the world of German desserts, you’ll find yourself immersed in their irresistible charm and history. So, prepare your palate for a wholesome and delicious adventure; let the enchanting flavors of these delectable delights transport you to the heart of Germany and its rich culinary heritage.

Take a look at the German dessert recipes below to find a favorite you can create for your next baking session.

There are 26 different traditional German desserts below that you can bust out at any time of the year.

Source: savingdessert.com

1. Black Forest Cake

Take a look at this delicious German recipe and imagine putting it down on the table for your next party.

Made with a ton of cherries and chocolate cake and frosting, this cake is packed with flavor and made to go down with a glass of milk.

Source: mybestgermanrecipes.com

2. German Plum Dumplings

If you’ve never had a German plum dumpling then you are missing out.

The delectable treats are made with a sweet dough wrapped around a filling of stewed plums and apricots,

which often include spices such as cinnamon and cloves.

This is one of those easy German desserts that are quick to make but won’t last long once you set them out for guests or family to enjoy.

You’ll need to make sure you create a pretty big batch if you want some to munch on throughout the week.

Source: lavendarandmacaroons.com

3. Stollen

Stollen is a classic German Christmas food and, lucky for you, you can have it any time of the year.

It has all the classic winter holiday flavors, like dried fruit, nuts, and spices.

What makes this particular dessert unique is that it’s shaped like a log but has a lot going on inside of it.

You can make this recipe into a vegan one if you want to avoid using any dairy products or eggs.

Source: quick-german-recipes.com

4. Bee Sting Cake

This cake isn’t quite like others that you’ve had before because the dough is actually made from pastry cream.

The cake has a soft, gooey inside with a crusty outside and a crunchy almond topping that adds a nice texture.

You can serve the German dessert recipe warm or cold depending on your preference.

The taste of the classic version of this German yeast cake makes it well worth the time it takes to make.

Some people decide to add a delicious chocolate sauce on top of their Bee Sting Cake before serving,

Once you get stung by this bee sting cake you’ll get hooked on its flavor.

Source: bunnyswarmoven.net

5. Peach Kuchen

A kuchen is a kind of cake that’s made with bread instead.

The German version of this is called the peach kuchen which is perfect for summertime because of the fruit on top.

To make these you need some almond meal, all-purpose flour, salt, sugar, butter, egg whites, vanilla extract, and ground cardamom.

Having this for the first time will make you wonder why you haven’t tried more German desserts in the past.

Source: food.com

6. Blushing Maid

The blushing maid is an old recipe with pumpernickel bread and a lot of other ingredients that give this dessert a nice rounded flavor.

You’ll find raspberries, whipped cream, yogurt, chocolate, sugar, and vanilla in this irresistible treat.

It’s a German version of a trifle and you can even mix up some of the ingredients in this recipe to make your own version.

Add in some strawberries or blueberries instead of raspberries if they are too tart for you.

Source: thecuriouschickpea.com

7. Vegan German Chocolate Cupcakes

Instead of going for a huge German chocolate cake, try serving up these vegan German chocolate cupcakes instead.

These cupcakes are made with dark chocolate, cocoa powder, and coconut cream to give them a rich and fudgy flavor.

What makes them even better is the coconut buttercream frosting that goes on top of each one so you can enjoy your delicious dessert with as much flavor as possible.

Source: baketotheroots.de

8. Kirschmichel Cherry Dessert

This used to be a way that Germans could use up their old bread and it’s the perfect dessert to cook for the family.

Made with stale bread, cooked cherries, and then doused in kirsch syrup, the kirschmichel is as delicious as it sounds.

You can have a bit of ice cream on the side for this dessert or try a bit of whipped cream.

Source: tasteofhome.com

9. Strawberry Rhubarb Trifle

This strawberry rhubarb trifle is best served with fresh rhubarb instead of getting some that is in the can.

The freshness is what makes this recipe so good and gives the dessert a nice tart flavor with a ton of sweetness from the strawberries.

This easy German recipe doesn’t require too much effort and you can make it in the morning when you have more time to put together your ingredients without having to worry about how long it will take.

The presentation on this trifle is amazing, so you’ll hear a few gasps from the table when you set it down.

It will go fast too, so it’s best to keep an extra tray of it if you have a large number of guests coming over for a party.

Source: eatingwell.com

10. German Apple Pancakes

The German pancake isn’t quite like the American version.

It has a creamier consistency and is cooked in a skillet with apples or other fruit.

All you need to do is mix up some all-purpose flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder before adding an egg and almond milk.

Once everything has mixed together well, pour it out onto a greased pan over medium heat so the pancakes can start cooking on each side.

When the pancakes are done you can drizzle some more almond milk, powdered sugar, and apples on top before serving them up to everyone at once.

Source: sweetthought.ca

11. Sweet Venison Cake

Just because this is called a venison cake doesn’t mean it has any actual deer meat in it.

In fact, you’ll find a delicious combination of chocolate cake, dried fruit, and other great ingredients that will give your taste buds a treat.

The German name of this dessert actually means “sweet meat” because it was originally made with leftovers.

Over time, various people have come up with a delicious recipe for it which makes the sweet venison cake even more special to serve at parties.

Venison Cake is a great German dessert to serve at the end of any meal and with all the yummy ingredients you’ll find it hard to resist.

Source: beyondkimchee.com

12. Apple Strudel

The apple strudel is a classic German dessert that’s made with puff pastry and then filled with apples that have been cooked to perfection.

What you want to do is peel and core your apples before adding them into a skillet with some butter, sugar, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and cinnamon.

Once the apple mixture has cooled you can start rolling out your puff pastries until they are flat but not too thin.

Then just pour your apple mixture down the center before flipping one side over to cover it completely.

Bake for about ten minutes and then let it cool before serving up this amazing German pastry dish.

Source: giveitsomethyme.com

13. German Fruit Flan

Regular flan desserts look mighty different than this German fruit flan version.

This recipe is more like a fruit tart because you’ll fill the bottom of a pie pan with dough and layer fruit on top.

Then you just have to pour some sort of custard over everything and bake it until it’s done.

You can easily substitute any fruits that you want in this recipe, but it works best with a mixture of tart and sweet options.

You could either make your own dough to lay down first or buy some store-made dough if you’re looking to save some time.

You’ll want to serve this one cold so you could even stick it in the fridge for a few hours before serving.

Source: foodgal.com

14. Sacher Torte

Treat yourself with sacher torte, one of the best chocolate cakes money can buy.

What makes it so good is that it’s not too sweet or oily, but just right for a chocolate dessert.

It’s an airy chocolate cake with a crunchy crust on top and bottom.

The filling is made of dark chocolate, apricot jam, and kirschwasser (cherry brandy).

Source: cinnamonandcorriander.com

15. German Coconut Macaroons

Macaroons have become pretty popular over the past few years and it’s easy to see why with this german coconut recipe.

You’ll need to grind up the coconut flakes first so you’ll need a food processor for this step.

Then you can mix up all of the ingredients and form them into balls with your hands.

Bake these until they are golden brown then let them cool before serving or dipping the macaroons into some chocolate.

This German version of coconut macaroons is a great sweet treat that you can easily make any time of the year.

Source: elavegan.com

16. Cinnamon Star Cookies

Cinnamon star cookies are very distinct because of their cinnamon-flavored icing on top.

Then they are also cut into the shape of stars which makes them all the more unique.

This recipe is for sugar cookies that are then rolled out and cut into star shapes before baking for about ten to twelve minutes.

Source: germangirlinamerica.com

17. German Rum Balls

The best part about these German rum balls is that you don’t have to actually bake them.

They are pretty easy to make and only need a handful of ingredients so you can easily whip them up at the last minute before guests arrive.

You can serve these with some coffee for a great after-dinner treat that will be greatly appreciated by everyone who tries one.

Rum balls are often served during the holidays and it’s easy to see why.

With this recipe, your house will smell amazing from baking them and once they’re ready you’ll only have to wait about an hour for them to cool off.

Source: justapinch.com

18. Peppernut Cookies

This classic peppernut German cookie recipe may look like ginger cookies but they have a strong anise flavor which makes them taste quite different.

What you want to do is take out all of the spices that you’ll need for this recipe before adding them into a food processor.

Then just pulse until they are all blended together into a thick paste.

The batter should hold its shape when you’re done mixing it up which means you have gotten everything just right.

Source: lifeloveandsugar.com

19. German Chocolate Cheesecake

You might have thought you knew everything there was to know about cheesecake but you probably haven’t had this German chocolate recipe before.

What sets this apart from other cheesecakes is that it has a great coconut and chocolate crust.

Then you have the delicious cheesecake itself that’s made with sweetened condensed milk, cream cheese, and other yummy ingredients.

You will need to let this bake for a while but once it cools it will be ready to serve.

Source: thespruceeats.com

20. German Rice Pudding

German rice pudding is not only creamy but also sweet because of the vanilla extract.

Vanilla extract is one of those things that you need to have in your pantry because it can make any dessert taste amazing.

The rice gets cooked with milk, water, sugar, salt, and vanilla extract before it’s baked for about an hour until the top has turned a golden brown.

Once it’s done you can serve it up with some fresh fruit and powdered sugar for the perfect German dessert.

Source: cinnamonandcoriander.com

21. German Blueberry Cake

This blueberry cake is ready to crumble right into your mouth.

You’ll use a ton of blueberries so the smell of them baking will fill the air.

Then all you have to do is blend some ingredients and pour everything into a cake pan so it can bake for about an hour.

When the blueberry cake is done baking let it cool off before serving or dusting with powdered sugar for maximum flavor and presentation.

Source: lilalicious.com

22. German Lebkuchen Recipe

Lebkuchen is a German dessert that is full of amazing ingredients like cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and all kinds of other tasty additions.

It’s usually made in big batches so you can give it out to friends and family for the holiday season.

You’ll need a lot of honey for this recipe because it needs to be spread on each layer before adding another one.

The more you’re able to let the ingredients sit, the more flavor you will have as they soak up all the flavors.

Source: mydinner.co.uk

23. Spaghetti Ice Cream

Don’t let the name fool you, no noodles go into the making of this delicious treat.

Spaghetti ice cream is actually a German dish that is popular during the summer months.

The ice cream itself tastes like vanilla and is mixed with salt and lemon zest.

You’ll also need to whip up some egg yolks so you can mix them into the ice cream base before putting everything into a container to freeze it for at least four hours.

Put the ice cream in a potato ricer and viola, you have spaghetti ice cream.

Source: thediymommy.com

24. German Crumb Cake

This is the kind of cake that just crumbles right into your mouth.

Every bite is just as good as the last and when you have a side of some freshly made whipped cream to go with it, there’s nothing better.

The streusel topping on this cake makes it the best of both worlds because you have a crumbly top but also a cakey bottom.

Then all you have to do is bake for an hour before letting it cool off so you can serve up some delicious slices.

Source: tasteofhome.com

25. Dipped Gingersnaps

Gingersnaps are already a delicious and spicy treat but when you dip them in some delicious sauce, they get even better.

Now, you can make your own gingersnap recipe or you can use some store-bought ones, it’s totally up to you.

Then all you have to do is pour a little of the chocolate sauce onto a plate and dip away until all of your gingersnaps are gone.

Source: ohsweetbasil.com

26. Linzer Cookies

If you haven’t had a Linzer cookie, then you’ve been missing out.

These are a perfect snack for any kid or adult because they’re a little sweet but also a little tart because of the raspberry jam.

You’ll need some parchment paper for this recipe and it’ll bake in about twenty minutes, or until they are golden brown around the edges.

After that, you can roll out your dough and cut it into whatever shapes you want before serving it to everyone with some powdered sugar on top.