Christmas in Germany: Christmas Baking

The Germans are famous for their Christmas baking, and, indeed, a German Christmas is filled with many delectable treats. Christstollen, also called Chrisbrot, Stutenbrot, or Striezl, constitutes Germany’s most famous Christmas cake or bread. To make it bakers enhance a sweet yeast dough with dried fruits, various fruit peels, almonds, and spices. After baking they apply a coating of sugar icing. Baumkuchen, or "tree cake,” serves as another special Christmas or Advent treat. The log-shaped cake is prepared in such a way that each slice is imprinted with concentric circles resembling tree rings. Gingerbread is another German Christmas favorite. The Germans not only shape it into cookies, but also into gingerbread houses. Other well-known German Christmas cookies include Lebkuchen, Pfeffernüsse, and Springerle. The German baker may also produce other Christmas treats from Germany’s storehouse of cookie recipes, including vanilla rings, cinnamon stars, various kinds of nut cookies, spice cookies, macaroons, marzipan, and more.