I’ll be honest, when I think about German food my brain goes straight to beer, brats, and schnitzel. But after scrolling through this list, I’m officially convinced their Christmas cookie game deserves equal billing. The best part? You don’t have to nail the pronunciation to fall head over heels for these 20 traditional German Christmas cookies. Let’s get into it, because these are ridiculously good.

1. German Potato Cookies

Potato cookies might sound a little odd, but as my dad would say, “Don’t knock ’em till you try ’em.” If you’ve spent any time in the south or have southern relatives, you might already know about potato candy. These cookies are similar, but instead of whole potatoes and peanut butter, you’ll use potato starch, icing sugar, and either pandan, ube, or vanilla extract for color and flavor.

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2. Authentic German Springerle

Springerle cookies are honestly just plain fun. Their name means “little jumpers” in English because they tend to hop around the baking sheet while they’re in the oven. The flavor is lightly sweet and delicate with notes of vanilla and anise, and you’ll use a fancy rolling pin to stamp those beautiful designs into each one. In Germany they show up around Christmas and New Year’s, but I have a feeling you’ll want to make them all season long.

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3. No-Bake German Chocolate Cookie Cake

Okay, technically this is a no bake German chocolate cake, but you’ll build it with store bought tea cookies and slice it into rectangular cookie like shapes. So in my book, it belongs on this list without question. If you want something incredibly easy, these take only 15 minutes, six ingredients, and zero cooking.

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4. Vanillekipferl (Blue Moon Crescent Cookies)

These crunchy little crescent shaped cookies get a generous dusting of powdered sugar and have the most lovely mild, slightly nutty flavor with just a whisper of vanilla. You’re working with only seven ingredients here, which is pretty great. Aside from letting the dough rest and chill, you can have them done in about 40 minutes.

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5. Toasted Hazelnut Meringue Kisses

These light, fluffy meringue cookies are some of the easiest you’ll ever make. Just four ingredients stand between you and a delicate nut and sugar flavor that’ll make your tastebuds very happy. Simple, quick, and totally delicious.

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6. Heidesand (Traditional German Browned Butter Shortbread Cookies)

Here’s another excellent traditional shortbread recipe, and this one makes 60 cookies in just 30 minutes. If the warm, buttery flavor is what you love most about shortbread, you’re in for a treat. These are the most buttery shortbread cookies I’ve ever tried.

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7. Spekulatius

These traditional shortbread cookies come with a whole lot more spice than the regular kind. We’re talking cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, cardamom, white pepper, salt, and more. Yes, that’s a serious spice list, and honestly? That’s exactly what makes them so irresistible.

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8. German Coconut Macaroons Recipe (Kokosmakronen)

If coconut and cinnamon sound like your kind of combo, these macaroons are a great option. They’re chewy with a fantastic texture and just a tiny bit of crunch inside. You can make about 40 of them in half an hour, which makes them perfect for baking in bulk when you’re short on time.

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9. German Lebkuchen

These classic German cookies are absolutely loaded with chocolatey, nutty goodness and you only need fewer than 10 ingredients to pull them off. The whole thing comes together in just over 30 minutes from start to finish. Every single cookie gets a chocolate coating and is packed with nuts, warm spices, and chewy candied fruit. So simple, so traditional, so delicious.

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10. German Christmas Cardamom Cookies (Kardamon Plaetzchen)

If you’re after something with a more unexpected flavor, these salty, floral leaning cookies could be exactly what you need. Vanilla sugar, rum, and cardamom each bring something different to the party. And if you’re feeling fancy, go ahead and dip them in chocolate for a little extra decadence.

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11. Authentic Bethmännchen (German Marzipan Cookies)

These chewy marzipan cookies take just 5 minutes of prep and another 15 to bake, which makes them a super fast favorite for German families during the holidays. A little rose water gives them the loveliest scent and a light floral taste. Then those crunchy almonds add another layer of depth to an already amazing cookie.

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12. Haselnussmakronen (German Hazelnut Macaroons)

Haselnussmakronen might not look like your typical macaroons, but the name gives it away: hazelnut macaroons. They’re gluten free and dairy free with a light flavor and a super simple recipe. You only need four ingredients: hazelnuts, sugar, vanilla, and egg whites.

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13. Pfeffernusse

Yes, the name might trip you up a little, but wait until you see that gorgeous white glaze made from powdered sugar, eggs, and honey. These are sweet in the best way, but then cloves, all-spice, cinnamon, and white pepper swoop in with a sharp, spicy kick. The result is rich, cozy, and completely unforgettable.

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14. Stollen

If you’ve never tried stollen, please do yourself a favor and fix that right away. It combines sweet and tart in the most perfect way with icing sugar, marzipan, dried sour cherries, and mixed fruit. The outside has that crinkly, crumbly look and the inside has a texture everyone will love.

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15. Vegan Nut Bars (Nussecken)

These vegan friendly and dairy free nut bars are super crispy but surprisingly moist at the same time. Apricot jam, dark chocolate, and caramelized hazelnuts come together for one cohesive flavor that’s sweet, salty, nutty, and completely indulgent. It takes 45 minutes to make a dozen, but they’re so filling you won’t need seconds, even though you’ll definitely want them.

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16. Zimtsterne (German Cinnamon Star Cookies)

To go the fully traditional route, you’ll want a set of star cookie cutters for these, but honestly they taste incredible no matter what shape you choose. The cinnamon and nut flavors really shine through in a big way. Plus there’s a fun, tasty egg wash glaze on top that ties the whole thing together.

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17. German Walnut Shortbread Cookies

These are wonderfully simple shortbread cookies with walnuts added for crunch and flavor. You can make them with nothing more than butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, flour, salt, sugar, and walnuts. If shortbread is your thing, you are going to absolutely love these crunchy, buttery bites.

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18. German Hazelnut Christmas Cookies

You only need five ingredients, 30 minutes, and some snowflake shaped cookie cutters to make these beauties. Butter, sugar, egg yolks, hazelnut flour, and regular flour come together in no time at all. They bake up crumbly, nutty, and pretty darn lovely.

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19. Oatmeal Cookie Recipe (aka Haferflockenplätzchen)

These chunky oatmeal cookies are a little different from the ones you’re probably used to. Dried apricots and chopped almonds bring a fruity, nutty yumminess. The texture is a bit different too. If you’re an oatmeal cookie fan and don’t mind a touch of tanginess from the apricots, you’re going to really enjoy these.

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20. German Spritz Cookies (Spritzgebäck)

German spritz cookies, or spritzgebäck, are some of the most interesting shapes you’ll ever see on a holiday cookie tray. You can pipe them into S shapes, I shapes, O shapes, or get a little creative with it. My niece calls them “noodle cookies” and honestly she’s not wrong, they kind of look like oversized noodles twisted into funky little coils.

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