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When it comes to German food, the first two distinguishing characteristics are rich and substantial. The flavour of the sweets in this nation is likewise impacted by this. The majority of the time, German sweet snacks have a pronounced sweetness or creamy texture.
It may surprise you to learn that certain German sweets contain spices just like regular savoury food. Lebkuchen, a popular German gingerbread cookie that uses spices like anise, cloves, nutmeg, coriander, and cinnamon is the prime example along with the Pfeffernuss cookies.
All of those unique German sweets, from the well-known Lebkuchen (gingerbread cookies) to the classic Bienenstich (German cake), are must-try foods if you wish to discover more about this European nation's cuisine.
Quarkbällchen
A classic German snack, quarkbällchen is made by mixing quark, which is a type of fresh, mild cheese along with flour, eggs, baking powder, regular sugar, and vanilla sugar in a combination. There are occasionally other ingredients added to the mixture, such as milk, melted butter, cinnamon, lemon zest and corn or potato starch.
The quark mixture is formed into little balls and deep-fried until the outside is golden brown and the interior is fluffy and tender. After cooking, the fried balls are typically dusted with powdered, granulated, or a cinnamon-sugar combination. This delicious delicacy said to be from Bavaria, is usually eaten as an afternoon snack with a cup of tea or coffee.
Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte
Black Forest cherry cake is a well-known delicacy in Germany made of chocolate sponge layered with whipped cream and fresh cherries that have been steeped with Kirschwasser, a clear brandy made from morello cherries. In certain variations, the whipped cream is flavoured with or the chocolate layers are soaked with this brandy.
The cake is often reserved for special occasions such as weddings, anniversaries, or birthdays. The Black Forest region of Germany is home to the Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte. It was originally documented in writing in 1934, and since then, it has gained popularity as a dessert in Germany that is loved throughout the nation.
Lebkuchen
This humble German confection is primarily associated with the winter season and Christmas. Lebkuchen is the name given to a broad range of ginger or honey-flavoured cookies that are often baked over oblaten, or thin wafers, and then covered or glazed with sugar frosting or dark chocolate.
Spices such as cloves, anise, nutmeg, coriander, and cardamom, along with other kinds of nuts or candied fruit, might be added as additional ingredients. The most well-known type of this cookie is the Nurnberger Elisenlebkuchen, which is heart-shaped and frequently adorned with frosting and various inscriptions. Other popular varieties include the German take on the gingerbread man, known as honigkuchenpferd, or honey cake horse, and hexenhausel, or witch's house.
All lebkuchen made in the city of Nurnberg is qualified for the protected designation of origin (PDO) status, which was given to Nurnberger lebkuchen in 1996.
Bienenstich
This traditional German cake is made up of two layers of yeasted pastry dough encasing a creamy filling. The contents are usually crème pâtissière or sweetened whipped cream, and the cake is covered with a gooey mixture of sugar or honey, cream, and slivered almonds.
The honey-almond glaze caramelises while baking, giving the cake a crunchy, glossy top. The term "bee sting cake" comes from the fact that bees were drawn to the glaze's sweet, honey-flavoured consistency.
Ofenschlupfer
Made with chunks of stale bread and apples, this classic Swabia bread pudding is soaked in a custard-like concoction of milk, sugar, eggs, butter, cinnamon and vanilla sugar. Everything is put into a baking dish that has been greased, and is cooked until the top is somewhat crunchy and has a deep brown colour.
Once baked, ofenschlupfer is often finished with icing sugar and enriched with raisins and flaked almonds. This is a simple delicacy that is traditionally enjoyed warm in Swabia with fresh cream and vanilla sauce on the side, but it also tastes great with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Eierschecke
This is a Saxony speciality delicacy that is a sheet cake with three layers. The base layer is usually made using yeast dough, but you can substitute a pie crust or a thin sponge cake. The custard-like substance in the middle layer is made of butter, milk, eggs, sugar, and quark.
Another kind of custard combined with vanilla pudding makes up the top layer. Following the assembly of these three layers, the cake is baked and subsequently sliced into rectangular pieces. Since eierschecke is often served with a hot cup of coffee as an afternoon or evening snack, most German coffee shops sell it.
