1. Stollen
This is a true Christmas food, that has been around since the 14th century. Stollen is bread filled with raisins, almonds, candied fruit and a big piece of marzipan in the middle. Stollen is sprinkled with icing sugar, to symbolize the baby Jesus wrapped in cloth. This Christmas bread is often cut into thin slices and served with a cup of coffee. For many German families, it is an essential part of the holiday season. The city Dresden is famous for its stollen, and every year a stollen of no less than 4,000 kilograms is baked at the annual Stollenfest!
2. Glühwein
When you walk through the Christmas market, the smell of glühwein greets you. Mulled wine is a typical German alcoholic beverage which is mostly drunk at Christmas markets. Glühwein is hot wine mixed with orange, cinnamon, star anise, cloves and vanilla. Nowadays, there are also other varieties, such as with rum, amaretto or berries. The drink is intended to warm you up in the cold outdoor air as you walk past the stalls at the Christmas market.
3. Dampfnudeln
Dampfnudeln are bread rolls that are both soft, light and firm. They are made with flour, milk, butter, egg and a little sugar. The rolls are steamed and baked in a sealed pan with a mixture of milk, butter, sugar and vanilla. This preparation gives the dampfnudeln their lightness and creates a caramelised layer on the bottom. Dampfnudeln are often served with a warm vanilla sauce, a plum or cherry compote, or with butter and cinnamon sugar. These are so delicious, you really can't miss out on this German Christmas food!
4. Maronen
Maronen are tame chestnuts which are roasted or baked. A classic type of food at German Christmas markets. They have been eaten for thousands of years, and were once considered a staple food in times of poverty and cold winters. At Christmas markets, chestnuts are roasted in large iron drums that slowly turn over an open fire. This gives them their soft texture and subtle sweet nutty flavour. Maronen are served in cone-shaped bags and are eaten by peeling them. Nothing is added so that the soft, nutty flavour of the chestnuts is preserved.
5. Flammkuchen
Flammkuchen are flat breads made from a simple dough, that are baked in wood-fired ovens. Flammkuchen literally means burnt cake and owes its name to the blisters caused by the hot fire in the oven. Flammkuchen were invented when farmers wanted to test whether their ovens were hot enough. The farmers topped a thin piece of dough with different ingredients, and the heat of the oven cooked it very quickly, creating a new snack. Flammkuchen are topped with all sorts of ingredients. A well-known combination is flammkuchen with crème fraiche, thin onion rings and bacon strips. Flammkuchen have a crispy base and a smoky flavour and are a really tasty food in Christmas markets.
6. Kartoffelpuffer
These are crispy savory pancakes made from potatoes. Kartoffelpuffer are a favourite winter food at the Christmas market. Grated potatoes are mixed with onion, egg, flour, pepper, salt and fried in oil. At Christmas markets, kartoffelpuffer are freshly made and fried, releasing a delicious aroma. There they are usually served with apple sauce, but they can also be eaten with garlic sauce, sauerkraut or with salmon and cream cheese. Kartoffelpuffer are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, so warm and tasty!
7. Gebratene Champignons mit Knoblauchsoße
These are fried mushrooms with a garlic sauce. You can find them at every Christmas market in Germany. White or chestnut mushrooms are fried in a cast iron pan with a mixture of butter, onion and herbs. The mushrooms are tossed in the pan so that they turn a light brown colour on the outside, but remain soft on the inside. The fried mushrooms are served with a creamy garlic sauce or a herb-flavoured quark sauce. Mushrooms with a creamy sauce are a great combination and perfect if you need a vegetable snack that's also tasty.
8. Eierpunsch
Eierpunsch is a classic hot alcoholic drink also found at German Christmas markets. Its creamy and smooth flavour makes it taste like a dessert. Eierpunsch is similar to English eggnog, but with a German twist. Eierpunsch is made from egg yolks, sugar, wine or rum, cream, cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg. A cup of eggnog is delicious for warming up while strolling through the Christmas market.
9. Lebkuchen
Lebkuchen is a spiced biscuit similar to gingerbread, but lighter and softer in flavour. In Germany, it’s considered a typical holiday biscuit and can always be found at Christmas markets. Lebkuchen are made with ingredients such as honey, almonds, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom, and are often topped with icing. This German biscuit is usually enjoyed with a glass of glühwein, a delicious winter tradition.
10. Gebrante Mandeln
A popular snack at German Christmas markets is gebrante Mandeln, roasted almonds. Almonds are heated in a pan with a mixture of sugar, cinnamon and water, which releases a delicious aroma, that reminds every one of the Christmas season. The almonds are crunchy and have a sweet and slightly spicy flavour. Gebrante Mandeln are often eaten at Christmas markets, because they are a warming and sweet snack and smell incredibly delicious.
Have all these delicacies made you feel hungry and tempted you to visit a Christmas market, but would you also like to see more of Berlin? Well, in that case, the following tour is the perfect option for you. The Classic Hop-On Hop-Off Tour in Berlin not only takes you past beautiful sights in the city, but also past six Christmas markets. Feel free to get off whenever you want to take a closer look at a (Christmas) hotspot. Book a Hop-on Hop-off tour now and enjoy all these delicious Christmas snacks. Happy Holidays!
