Sticky post
Easy basic Cookie Dough – many Varieties
Are you baking your Christmas cookies yet? Here is a delightful and versatile Cookie Dough recipe! One basic dough = many delicious varieties! Enjoy experimenting this holiday season! It’s not just for cutting out shapes, but for all kinds of delightful shortbread cookies in every imaginable shape and variation. You can easily add ingredients like cocoa powder, cinnamon sugar, chopped nuts, poppy seeds, and much … Continue reading Easy basic Cookie Dough – many Varieties
Sticky post
The History and Meaning of the Adventskranz
As November draws to a close and the air turns crisp, I find myself returning to one of my favorite rituals—gathering fresh evergreen branches and crafting an Advent wreath, or Adventskranz, just as we did back home in Bavaria. I carefully bind the greens together, nestle four candles—usually red or white—into the circle, and place it in a spot where it can quietly anchor the … Continue reading The History and Meaning of the Adventskranz
Sticky post
Homemade Eggnog Liqueur – A Christmas Tradition
For years, I struggled to find Christmas presents that truly suited my loved ones. I wanted something thoughtful, something that carried a piece of me, and something that could be shared and enjoyed together. A few years ago, I discovered the perfect gift: homemade Eggnog Liqueur, or Eierlikör as we call it in Germany. Since then, these golden bottles, wrapped with ribbons and tucked under … Continue reading Homemade Eggnog Liqueur – A Christmas Tradition
Sticky post
German Vanilla Crescents (Vanillakipferl)
Vanilla Crescents are a real classic and one of the most popular Christmas cookies. In this recipe, the crescents are easy to make, and will melt in your mouth, just like my Oma and Mother made them Continue reading German Vanilla Crescents (Vanillakipferl)
Sticky post
Make authentic German Glühwein at home
Glühwein is a hot spiced mulled red wine and part of the Christmas market like the gifts under the Christmas tree. The quality of the hot spiced wine at the Christmas market is usually not very good, I only drink it because I want to warm up when it’s cold. Continue reading Make authentic German Glühwein at home
Sticky post
The Munich Christmas miracle
The people of Munich have their very own Christkindl or Christ child. Every year it is displayed for worship from the first day of Christmas until Epiphany Continue reading The Munich Christmas miracle
Sticky post
The History of Advent Calendars in Germany
Christmas time for us children growing up in Germany was an exciting time. From the 1st December to the 24th, we were allowed to eat Chocolate in the morning, which normally would be a tabu during the year. We woke up early every day in Advent to look forward to open a little door at the Christmas calendar hanging on the wall, and there we discovered a sweet little treasure, surprise inside Continue reading The History of Advent Calendars in Germany
Sticky post
“Weihnachten” from my Childhood
The Advent in Germany is the most magical and festive time. I remember the romantic historical Christkindlmarkets, the garland, lights and glittering Christmas trees, the Glühwein and Lebkuchen that makes a dreary season heart light up. Continue reading “Weihnachten” from my Childhood
Sticky post
Easy No-Knead German Bauernbrot Recipe
I became a bread baking enthusiast a while back watching a video of a Bakery in NYC. The clip started: “It’s so easy, a four year old can do it”. I had to try, and I am hooked ever since. I have been trying different versions and researched baking techniques, and to my surprise, this Bread taste the closest I grew up with in Germany Continue reading Easy No-Knead German Bauernbrot Recipe
Sticky post
“Zwetschgemännle” made out of dried Prunes
For decades the “Zwetschgemännle” which are popular figures from dried Prunes, can be found at the colorful world of the Christkindlesmarkt. There are over 350 different figures – from “Nackerte” (Naked) to “Schlotfeger” (Chimney sweeper) to Lovers. The repertoire ranges. There are hundreds of Gnomes and bass Violin players, Guitarists and Pianists, Cooks and Waiters, Mushroom pickers, Pastors, and even Devils etc. Continue reading “Zwetschgemännle” made out of dried Prunes
Sticky post
The Krampus Tradition in South Bavaria
The Krampus is a tradition from the Alpine region, representing a scary character associated with Advent (the start of December). Alongside Saint Nicholas, who rewards well-behaved children, Krampus serves as the sinister counterpart that punishes those who misbehave. The name derives from the Old German cramps = “claw” or from the Bavarian “Krampn” = something lifeless or withered. By the middle of the twentieth century, … Continue reading The Krampus Tradition in South Bavaria
Sticky post
Schwibbogen, a Candle Arch from the Ore Mountains
The Schwibbogen is a candle arch from the Erzgebirge. It’s a Christmas decoration that can be found in almost any home in the region. The Schwibbögen is an integral part of the Erzgebirge folk art. Continue reading Schwibbogen, a Candle Arch from the Ore Mountains
Sticky post
Crispy German Spice Cookies, the Spekulatius
There’s something magical about the scent of cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom wafting through the house in the days leading up to Christmas. For me, that magic was always wrapped up in one beloved tradition: baking German Spekulatius cookies with my mother and sisters. Spekulatius, or Speculoos in English, is a thin crispy spice cookie made of seasoned shortcrust pastry in the form of figurative representations. … Continue reading Crispy German Spice Cookies, the Spekulatius
Baking the perfect German Rolls with Kochstück
Whenever I return to Germany, I always stop by the local bakery. There’s something comforting about walking into a Bäckerei in the morning — the scent of fresh bread and the bustle of regulars picking up their whole wheat seeded Rolls baked with a Kochstück. My favorites, these rolls are hearty and nutty, topped with sesame, poppy, or flax seeds. They’re nourishing and satisfying, perfect … Continue reading Baking the perfect German Rolls with Kochstück
Thin European Oatmeal Cookies (Haferkekse)
European Oatmeal cookies or Haferkekse have a charm all their own. They’re lighter, crispier, and more rustic than the thick, chewy American versions — the kind of cookie you’d find in a small bakery tucked along a cobblestone street, or on grandmother’s kitchen table. They’re simple, honest, and full of the kind of flavor that comes from toasting oats in real butter and letting the … Continue reading Thin European Oatmeal Cookies (Haferkekse)
Creamy Honey Mustard— A Taste of Passau’s Christmas Market
There are flavors that linger long after the moment has passed — and for me, one of those came from a quiet corner of the Passau Christmas market. I was wandering between stalls, the scent of roasted nuts and mulled wine in the air, when I came across something unexpected: flame-grilled Salmon, served on a cedar plank, with a dollop of Creamy Honey Mustard on … Continue reading Creamy Honey Mustard— A Taste of Passau’s Christmas Market
How to Make Bienenstich Cookies Step-by-Step
Some recipes feel like treasures, and Bienenstich or German Bee Sting Cake has always been one of them. Yet, during the holidays, I often crave something smaller and shareable. That’s how these Bienenstich cookies came to be: all the flavor of the original in a delicate little treat. These cookies capture everything I love about the traditional cake — the honey‑almond crunch, the buttery base, … Continue reading How to Make Bienenstich Cookies Step-by-Step
Polish Pączki with a Bavarian Twist
Every now and then, a simple grocery-store discovery sends me down a delightful culinary rabbit hole. That’s exactly what happened when I spotted Polish Pączki at Aldi here in the US. These plump, glossy donuts — filled with jam and dusted with sugar — immediately caught my eye. They reminded me of the filled Krapfen I grew up with in Bavaria, yet they had their … Continue reading Polish Pączki with a Bavarian Twist
Delicious Peach Streusel Cake Recipe
Some cakes evoke sunshine, even in winter, and this Peach Streusel Cake is one of them. Quick to make and wonderfully juicy, it features a Short crust base, creamy Vanilla Pudding layer, sweet Peaches, and crunchy Streusel. It’s like summer on a plate—perfect for sharing with friends or family over coffee. As a child, I adored peach cakes. My favorite was a simple peach sponge … Continue reading Delicious Peach Streusel Cake Recipe
Blaukraut, the German Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage
Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage, known as Rotkohl in northern Germany and Blaukraut in Bavaria, is a beloved side dish that brings color, flavor, and tradition to the table. Its balance of tangy vinegar and natural sweetness from apples makes it a staple at festive meals, especially Christmas, alongside roast goose, duck, or pork. Growing up in Bavaria, this dish often appeared at holiday tables, … Continue reading Blaukraut, the German Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage
