Savor the taste of tradition with these authentic German dessert recipes. From spritz cookies to strudels, these treats taste just like grandma’s.
31 German Dessert Recipes from Oma’s Kitchen
Updated on May 21, 2025
1/31
Oma’s Apfelkuchen (Grandma’s Apple Cake)
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband’s German family calls this Oma’s apfelkuchen, which translates to 'Grandma’s apple cake.' They’ve been sharing the recipe for more than 150 years. I use Granny Smith apples, but any variety works. —Amy Kirchen, Loveland, Ohio
2/31
Chocolate Lebkuchen
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
about 1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Having lived in Germany, I try to keep my German cooking as authentic as possible. This lovely lebkuchen recipe is a culinary Christmas custom. —Cathy Lemmon, Quinlan, Texas
3/31
Bee Sting Cake
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
The bee sting cake, or bienenstich, may look daunting, but it's well worth the effort. Take the steps one at a time and you'll be surprised how easy it is to make. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
4/31
Linzer Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This specialty cookie takes a little extra effort, but the results are sweet! They really help to make the holidays feel special. —Jane Pearcy, Verona, Wisconsin
5/31
Black Forest Cake
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
As far as I know, this cake recipe can be traced back to my German great-grandma. When I got married, my mother gave me a copy and I hope to someday pass it down to my children. —Stephanie Travis, Fallon, Nevada
6/31
Sachertorte
Total Time
55 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Guests will be surprised to hear that this Sacher torte recipe starts with a convenient cake mix. Each bite features chocolate, almonds and apricots. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
7/31
Apple Strudel
Total Time
1 hour 45 min
Servings
2 strudels (8 pieces each)
From the Recipe Creator:
This gorgeous strudel has just what you crave this time of year: thin layers of flaky crust and lots of juicy apples. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
8/31
German Plum Tart
Total Time
45 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
The buttery crust of this fruit-filled treat melts in your mouth. You can substitute sliced apples or peaches for the plums with great results. I've used this crust with blueberries, too. —Helga Schlape, Florham Park, New Jersey
9/31
Dipped Gingersnaps
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I get tremendous satisfaction making and giving time-tested yuletide treats like these dipped gingersnaps. Dipping them in white chocolate makes much-loved gingersnaps even more special. —Laura Kimball, West Jordan, Utah
10/31
Sauerkraut Chocolate Cake
Total Time
55 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
For an adventurous cake, try this recipe. People might need a little coaxing to try it but once they do, they will love it.—The Fremont Company
11/31
Raspberry Custard Kuchen
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Back where I grew up in Wisconsin, people have been baking this German treat for generations. We love it for breakfast or as a special dessert. It's no fuss to fix and impressive to serve. —Virginia Arndt, Sequim, Washington
12/31
Apple Bavarian Torte
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A cookie-like crust holds the sensational filling of cream cheese, apples and almonds. This comforting apple torte will be welcomed addition to a bake sale or potluck. —Sheila Swift, Dobson, North Carolina
13/31
Oma's Marzipan Stollen
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
1 loaf (16 pieces)
From the Recipe Creator:
My German grandma made this stollen for us when we were young. I love its homey taste and how it reminds me of her and the German food she made. I often freeze this sweet bread once it’s shaped into a braid. Then I can pull it out the night before, let it rise on the counter overnight, and bake it in the morning. —Abigail Leszczynski, Beauford, South Carolina
14/31
Hazelnut-Almond Zimtsterne
Total Time
45 min
Servings
about 6-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These nutty, nicely spiced cutouts dusted with sugar are a German tradition. Serve them with cups of tea or coffee for dunking.
15/31
Black Forest Chocolate Torte
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
If you're thinking about pulling out all the stops for a dessert that says wow, look no further. This cherry-crowned beauty—stacked layers of chocolate cake and cream filling—will have everyone talking. —Doris Grotz, York, Nebraska
16/31
Pfeffernuesse Cookies
Total Time
50 min
Servings
10 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
A German holiday tradition, these fragrant pfeffernuesse cookies pack a warm rush of spices in every bite. Also called peppernuts, they go wonderfully with coffee or tea.—Joanne Nelson, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
17/31
Tillie's Ginger Crumb Cake
Total Time
55 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe goes back at least as far as my grandmother, who was born in the early 1900s. Our sons and I enjoy eating it in a bowl with milk poured on it—much to the dismay of my husband, who prefers it plain! —Kathy Nienow Clark, Byron, Michigan
18/31
Almond Spritz Cookies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
about 7 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This almond spritz cookies recipe can be left plain or decorated with colored sugar and frosting. In our house, it just wouldn't be Christmas without some cookie press recipes.—Tanya Hart, Muncie, Indiana
19/31
Almond-Filled Stollen
Total Time
1 hour 30 min
Servings
3 loaves (12 slices each)
From the Recipe Creator:
I’ve been making this during the holiday season for nearly 50 years. When we flew to Alaska one year to spend Christmas with our daughter’s family, I carried my stollen on the plane!—Rachel Seel, Abbotsford, British Columbia
20/31
Lebkuchen
Total Time
50 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
It's tradition for my family to make these German treats together. The recipe came from my great-grandmother's cookbook, and judging from the amount of requests I get, it has certainly stood the test of time. —Esther Kempker, Jefferson City, Missouri
21/31
Kuchen
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
4 coffee cakes (8 servings each)
From the Recipe Creator:
This German classic is such a part of our reunions, we designate a special place to serve it. Five generations flock to the "Kuchen Room" for this coffee cake. —Stephanie Schentzel, Northville, South Dakota
22/31
German Apple Cake
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother made this German apple cake for my brothers and me when we were kids. It's an excellent choice for a Christmas potluck or actually any time of year. —Edie DeSpain, Logan, Utah
23/31
Buttery Spritz Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 7-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This tender spritz cookie recipe is quite eye-catching on my Christmas cookie tray. The dough is easy to work with, so it's fun to make these spritz cookies into a variety of festive shapes. This is hands-down the best spritz cookie recipe ever. —Beverly Launius, Sandwich, Illinois
24/31
German Spice Cookies
Total Time
20 min
Servings
3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These chewy spice cookies are great with coffee and taste even better the next day. The recipe has been a family favorite for more than 40 years.
25/31
Chocolate Pear Hazelnut Tart
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
As a teenage foreign exchange student in the south of France, I was horribly homesick. Then my host family's Grandmother Miette arrived and asked if I'd like to help her bake this nutty tart from scratch. It turned my trip around and inspired my lifelong passion for baking. Weighing ingredients, roasting nuts, kneading dough—the art of baking transcends language. —Lexi McKeown, Los Angeles, California
26/31
Zimtsterne
Total Time
50 min
Servings
about 5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
During December, homes and bakeries in Switzerland are filled with the aroma of classic cookies like these "Zimtsterne." —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
27/31
German Christmas Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This little spice cookie tastes very European and is similar to Pfeffernüsse or “peppernut.” We make ours with cozy spices, anise flavoring, almonds and candied citron. —Carole Mueller, Florissant, Missouri
28/31
German Chocolate Pie
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Thanksgiving dinner at our house includes an average of 25 guests and a dozen different pies. This one has all the luscious flavor of German chocolate cake. A friend who tried it told me he wanted it to be his birthday pie from now on. —Debbie Clay, Farmington, New Mexico
29/31
Black Forest Cheesecake
Total Time
20 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I have taken this popular cheesecake to every gathering since I created the recipe about 15 years ago. My family asks for the dessert all the time, and I'm happy to make it. —Christine Ooyen, Winnebago, Illinois
30/31
Linzer Torte
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
2 tortes (8 servings each)
From the Recipe Creator:
My Austrian grandmother made this nutty jam-filled linzer torte only at Christmastime. So did my mother, and now I'm proud to carry on the tasty tradition. It's a great way to end a holiday meal. —Jeanne Siebert, Salt Lake City, Utah
31/31
Schaum Torte
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe was handed down from my German grandma. She took great pride in serving this delicate dessert. Whenever I make it, I'm filled with warm memories of childhood. —Diane Krisman, Hales Corners, Wisconsin
German Desserts FAQ
What are some of the most popular traditional German desserts?
Some of the most popular German desserts include cakes like black forest cake and bee sting cake, pastries like apple strudel, and cookies like lebkuchen and zimtsterne. These desserts are popular for their deep connection to regional traditions and are often tied to seasonal celebrations like Christmas and Easter. Many of them are also enjoyed as a sweet treat with coffee throughout the year.
What is a typical Oktoberfest dessert?
Typical Oktoberfest desserts include bee sting cake, rote grütze, black forest cake and apfelstrudel—rich, flavorful and comforting options often served in beer tents and German households during the fall festival. Oktoberfest, held from mid-September through early October, is known for its hearty food, beer and music. If you’re planning your own Oktoberfest celebration, pair these desserts with other Oktoberfest recipes, like soft pretzels, currywurst, obatzda and bratwurst, for a well-rounded spread.
How is German cheesecake different from American cheesecake?
German cheesecake (aka käsekuchen) is typically made with quark, a creamy, soft cheese that’s slightly tangier and less sweet than American cream cheese. This gives it a lighter and airier texture than the velvety, somewhat dense texture of American cheesecakes. Another difference is that American cheesecake is made with a graham cracker crust, while German cheesecake typically features a shortcrust base (or no crust at all).
