15 German Christmas Cookies That Belong on Every Holiday Dessert Plate
These traditional treats will bring old-world charm to your table!
It wouldn’t be the Christmas season without more than a few decadent desserts! During this time of year, festive treats like peppermint bark, gingerbread cookies, eggnog pudding, and pecan pie seem to show up around every corner and at every type of event. If you’re looking for seasonal sweets to serve over the holidays, whether it’s for a potluck, a party, or just your own enjoyment, Christmas cookies are a great place to start. There’s no question that the best cookie platters have a variety of shapes, sizes, and flavors—so why not include some old-fashioned recipes that have been passed down for generations?
Enter: German Christmas cookies. These classic cut-out treats, which were born in the Western European country centuries ago, are usually rich, often spiced, and undeniably tasty. Some traditional types include show-stopping sandwich cookies, comforting ginger cookies, nutty marzipan cookies, and so much more. For celebratory shapes, try buttery, powdered horns or cinnamon, nutty stars. To pack on the flavor, consider shortbread slices topped with a hazelnut coating and apricot jam. Or opt for something everyone knows and loves like chewy gingerbread. Whatever you choose, these German Christmas cookies will transport you to the country’s festive holiday markets and bring old-world charm to your dessert spread.
More Christmas dessert recipes to whip up this season:
Star Cookies (Zimtsterne)
Traditionally made with almonds and cinnamon, these star-shaped German Christmas cookies are nutty, spiced, and so celebratory. If you want to switch things up for your holiday dessert platter, try this recipe, which swaps almonds for pistachios. And don't forget to add the thin layer of chewy meringue on top!
Get the Star Cookies (Zimtsterne) recipe.
Crescent Cookies (Vanillekipferl)
Some of the most classic Christmas desserts out there, these are a must to put on your holiday menu. Although the traditional crescent-shaped biscuits are made with walnuts, this recipe calls for pecans, which brings a sweeter taste and softer texture to the cookies. No matter which nut you use, though, the heavy dusting of powdered sugar (that looks like snow!) is non-negotiable!
Get the Crescent Cookies recipe.
Spritz Cookies (Spritzgebäck)
Made with rich shortcrust pastry, these German Christmas cookies are a crisp, buttery dream. To make them even more holiday-inspired, grab a cookie press and cut them into Christmassy shapes like stars, trees, and ornaments. Then, finish them off with sprinkles, icing, or any other festive topping of your choosing!
Get the Spritz Cookies recipe.
Thumbprint Cookies (Kulleraugen)
Defined by their fruity filling in the center, thumbprint cookies are a classic treat in both Germany and the United States. These dense, delicious cookies can be filled with jam or jelly in any flavor you see fit, but Ree Drummond's recipe features raspberry jam, which gives these desserts a colorful Christmas flair.
Get Ree's Thumbprint Cookies recipe.
Linzer Cookies (Spitzbuben)
With a beautiful jam filling and a coating of powdered sugar, these German Christmas cookies simply scream the holidays. Two shortbread cookies are sandwiched together with a layer of jam, and a center cut-out shows the rich hue. This recipe features a floral-like shape, but you can customize it to your liking!
Get the Linzer Cookies recipe.
Lebkuchen
Similar in flavor to gingerbread, these traditional German cookies are sweetened with honey and spiced with cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg. They're soft and chewy and often coated in a sugar glaze. This recipe calls for a lemony finish that'll give your dessert lineup a fresh, citrusy spin.
Pfeffernusse
These traditional German Christmas cookies look like snowballs, which makes them a no-brainer for a holiday gathering. While the molasses-sweetened mix and powdered-sugar layer are undeniably sweet, these cookies have a kick from ground pepper. Anise extract also gives it a unique licorice-like flavor (half a teaspoon of ground anise seed works just as well!).
Springerle
Another anise-flavored German Christmas cookie is the springerle, but this one has intricate embossed designs that'll surely make them show-stoppers at your holiday get-together. The stunning artwork is surprisingly easy to pull off: Just press a mold into the dough before baking. Since they're dried overnight before they're thrown into the oven, they have a chewy middle with crispy edges.
German Hazelnut Macaroons (Haselnussmakronen)
The name of these German Christmas cookies simply breaks down to "hazelnut macaroons," and they offer the perfect blend of crispy, chewy, and soft. While the core ingredients are ground hazelnuts, egg whites, and sugar, this recipe includes a dash of cinnamon and a splash of vanilla for a hint of warmth. A hazelnut on top will add a decorative touch, as well!
Get the German Hazelnut Macaroon recipe at The Toasty Kitchen.
Stollen Balls
Traditionally, this German dessert is a yeasted sweet bread made with dried fruit and nuts. But this variation turns the classic Christmas treat into a cookie, which will surely become a new favorite. This iteration has all the sugary sweetness, warm spices, and fruity and nutty mix-ins as the original, yet it's faster and simpler to make!
Nut Corners (Nussecken)
These German Christmas cookies are made up of three delicious layers: a buttery shortbread, a sweet apricot jam, and a caramelized hazelnut topping. If you count the corners dipped in rich dark chocolate, that's technically four layers of deliciousness! The triangular shapes will give your cookie platter a playful spin.
Marzipan Cookies (Bethmannchen)
You'll find this treat at a Christmas market in Frankfurt, but you can easily bake your own at home in just 20 minutes. Crisp on the outside, chewy on the inside, and studded with crunchy almonds, this German Christmas cookie is melt-in-your-mouth good.
Get the Marzipan Cookies (Bethmannchen) recipe at Veggie Desserts.
Almond Horns (Mandelhörnchen)
During the busy holiday season, any cookie recipe that can be made ahead of time is a huge plus—and these almond-flavored cookies dipped in chocolate are a superb example. If you're hosting a Christmas get-together, you can store these treats in an airtight container for up to three weeks!
Get the Almond Horns (Mandelhörnchen) recipe at Texanerin Baking.
German Coconut Macaroons (Kokosmakronen)
Coconut macaroons are a classic German Christmas cookie, but they’re perfect to nibble on at any point in the year! They’re made in one bowl with just a few ingredients: unsweetened shredded coconut, sweetened condensed milk, egg whites, vanilla extract, Kosher salt, and dark chocolate.
Get the German Coconut Macaroons recipe at The Floured Table.
Heidesand (Brown Butter Shortbread Cookies)
These slice-and-bake cookies have a nutty, caramelized flavor, thanks to the browned butter. It's the coarse sugar on the edges, however, that make these German Christmas cookies extra special for the holidays!
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