Germany is famous for its cozy, spice-filled Christmas cookies — classics that fill the house with warm aromas of cinnamon, cloves, almonds, butter, and citrus.
These cookies (called Plätzchen or Weihnachtsgebäck) are nostalgic, beautiful, and surprisingly simple to bake at home.
Here’s your guide to making authentic German Christmas cookies with easy steps and festive flair!
1. Stock Up on Classic German Baking Ingredients 🎁
German Christmas cookies rely on a few signature ingredients that make their flavors unmistakable.
Essential ingredients:
Ground almonds or hazelnuts
Almond flour
Honey
Molasses or dark sugar
Butter
Cinnamon
Cloves
Cardamom
Lemon zest
Orange zest
Vanilla sugar
Dark chocolate
Marzipan (optional but very traditional)
Tools that help:
Parchment paper
Rolling pin
Cookie cutters (stars, hearts, trees)
Cooling racks
Start with these, and you’ll be ready to bake any German cookie.
2. Make Lebkuchen (German Gingerbread) — A Must! 🍯🌙
Lebkuchen is soft, spiced German gingerbread packed with warm flavors.
How to make authentic Lebkuchen:
Mix honey, sugar, and butter → melt gently.
Combine with flour, ground almonds, cinnamon, cloves, ginger.
Chill the dough overnight (this develops the flavor).
Roll out and cut shapes or spoon onto wafers (Oblaten).
Bake until lightly golden.
Glaze with lemon icing or dip in chocolate.
Tip: Add candied citrus peel for true Nuremberg-style Lebkuchen.
3. Bake Vanilla Kipferl (Vanillekipferl) — Buttery Almond Crescents 🌙
These crescent-shaped cookies melt in your mouth and are a German holiday icon.
Steps:
Mix butter + almond flour + flour + sugar.
Chill dough for at least 1 hour.
Shape into small crescents.
Bake until lightly golden at the tips.
Immediately toss in vanilla sugar while warm.
Flavor tip: Add finely grated lemon zest for an authentic touch.
4. Make Zimtsterne (Cinnamon Stars) — Naturally Gluten-Free ⭐
These chewy cinnamon cookies with a white meringue top are festive and delicious.
How to make them:
Mix ground almonds + cinnamon + powdered sugar + egg white.
Roll dough between parchment sheets (it’s sticky).
Cut into stars.
Top with a thin layer of meringue glaze.
Bake low and slow so the glaze stays white.
Tip: Let the dough rest overnight for better texture.
5. Bake Butterplätzchen (Cut-Out Butter Cookies) 🍪
These are simple, sweet, and perfect for decorating.
Steps:
Cream butter + sugar + vanilla.
Add egg + flour to form a smooth dough.
Chill for 1 hour.
Roll dough thin and cut festive shapes.
Bake and decorate with icing or sprinkles.
These are great for baking with kids and gifting to neighbors.
6. Make Spritzgebäck (German Spritz Cookies) 🌼
These buttery cookies are piped or pressed into shapes and baked until crisp.
Tips for perfect Spritz cookies:
Use soft room-temperature butter
Don’t refrigerate the dough (it must stay soft for piping)
Press into S-shapes, loops, or flowers
Dip cooled cookies in chocolate
They store beautifully and are classic German Christmas treats.
7. Try Hazelnut Macaroons (Haselnussmakronen) 🌰
Light, chewy, and naturally gluten-free — perfect for nut lovers.
Steps:
Whip egg whites to stiff peaks.
Fold in sugar and ground hazelnuts.
Spoon onto wafers or parchment.
Top with a whole hazelnut.
These pair wonderfully with coffee or mulled wine.
8. Add Pfeffernüsse (Pepper Nuts) — Tiny, Spiced Cookies 🌶️
These tiny cookies have a deep, spicy flavor and a hint of pepper.
How to make them:
Mix spices (cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, pepper).
Combine with butter, sugar, and molasses.
Roll into small balls.
Bake and coat with powdered sugar or glaze.
They get better after a few days as the spices settle!
9. Make German Marzipan Treats (Marzipankartoffeln) 🍬
These “marzipan potatoes” are fun, easy, and require no baking.
Steps:
Roll marzipan into small balls.
Dust with cocoa powder until they resemble tiny potatoes.
Chill and serve.
Cute, nostalgic, and perfect for gifting.
10. Create a Traditional German Cookie Plate 🎄🇩🇪
German cookie assortments (Bunte Teller) are colorful, generous, and always include multiple varieties.
Build your plate with:
Lebkuchen
Vanilla Kipferl
Zimtsterne
Butterplätzchen
Spritzgebäck
Marzipan treats
Chocolate-dipped cookies
Hazelnut macaroons
Add décor for authentic flair:
Orange slices
Cinnamon sticks
Almonds in their shells
Chocolate ornaments
German candy (like Spekulatius or chocolate Santas)
🎄✨ Final Takeaway
German Christmas cookies are rich in tradition, deeply spiced, and surprisingly easy to bake at home.
Choose a few classics — Lebkuchen, Kipferl, Zimtsterne, Spritzgebäck — and you’ll have a beautiful, authentic cookie plate that brings European Christmas magic right to your kitchen.
