25 Classic German Recipes That’ll Make You Say “Wunderbar!”
Are you ready to connect with your German roots and enjoy some delicious comfort food? We’ve got some of our favorite traditional German recipes that are perfect for this.
Oma’s German Cucumber Salad
This tangy and sweet German Cucumber Salad is a delicious side salad that takes only minutes to make.
Get the Recipe: Oma’s German Cucumber Salad
Spaezle (Spätzle)
Spaetzle (German: Spätzle) is an easy, hearty egg noodle dish that goes beautifully with classic German recipes such as Rouladen and Cucumber Salad.
Get the Recipe: Spaetzle
Frikadellen
German Frikadellen are delicious pan-fried meatballs made with ground beef, onions, and seasonings. They are perfect for a quick and tasty meal.
Get the Recipe: Frikadellen
Warm German Potato Salad
This authentic warm German Potato Salad recipe showcases perfectly tender sliced potatoes drizzled with a smoky, sweet, tangy bacon dressing and lots of crispy bacon.
Get the Recipe: Warm German Potato Salad
German Potato Pancakes (Reibekuchen)
Classic German Potato Pancakes (German: Kartoffelpuffer/Reibekuchen) are made from freshly grated potatoes fried to golden brown perfection. Crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside.
Get the Recipe: German Potato Pancakes
German Crumb Cake
A slice of German Crumb Cake (Streuselkuchen) is the perfect afternoon snack. The cake has a light, airy texture with just enough sweetness and crunch from the jam, crumble, and almonds!
Get the Recipe: German Crumb Cake
Creamy German Cucumber Salad
This creamy Cucumber Salad is based on a classic German recipe. It’s made with crispy cucumbers and a fresh herb dressing.
Get the Recipe: Creamy German Cucumber Salad
German Cherry Coffee Cake – Kirschstreusel
This German Cherry Coffee Cake recipe is based on the classic German dessert – Kirschstreusel. It is a moist and tender, easy coffee cake with cherries.
Get the Recipe: Cherry Coffee Cake
German Hunter-Schnitzel (Jägerschnitzel)
Hunter’s Schnitzel (Jägerschnitzel) is a classic German recipe made with perfectly fried golden brown breaded pork cutlets topped with rich mushroom gravy!
Get the Recipe: Jägerschnitzel
Bee Sting Cake
Bee Sting Cake is a tried and true German dessert cake recipe. It’s a light, airy cake with rich vanilla cream filling and crunchy almond topping.
Get the Recipe: Bee Sting Cake
German Fried Bacon Cabbage Noodles – Krautfleckerl
Experience the warmth and comfort of a traditional German dish with this delicious fried cabbage and noodle recipe: crispy bacon, savory ham, caramelized cabbage and onions, tender pasta, and a hint of nutty Parmesan cheese.
Get the Recipe: German Fried Bacon Cabbage Noodles – Krautfleckerl
Old-Fashioned German Raisin Bread
Indulge in the inviting aroma of homemade Raisin Bread – warm, fluffy, and tender. This treat is easy to make using a few simple ingredients!
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned German Raisin Bread
Potato Dumplings
Classic German Potato Dumplings are one of Germany’s most popular comfort foods. Tender potatoes are combined with egg yolk, butter, and a hint of nutmeg.
Get the Recipe: Potato Dumplings
German Apple Pancakes (Apfelpfannkuchen)
This classic German recipe has all the essentials – eggs, milk, flour, apples, and a dash of cinnamon. So get ready for a fantastic meal!
Get the Recipe: Apple Pancakes
German Butter Cake (Butterkuchen)
Butterkuchen (German butter cake) is a timeless, old-fashioned dessert. This German cake is made with a rich blend of milk, sugar, yeast, eggs, and flour.
Get the Recipe: German Buttercake (Butterkuchen)
Strawberry Torte (Erdbeertorte)
Strawberry Torte is a delicious, classic German sponge cake with a creamy pudding layer and topped with glazed strawberries.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Torte
German Apple Cake (Apfelkuchen mit Streusel)
Our traditional German Apple Cake (Apfelkuchen) with streusel topping is a dessert classic you’ll find all over Germany. And you don’t even have to travel further than your kitchen because you can make this delicious dessert at home.
Get the Recipe: German Apple Cake
German Cheesecake – Käsekuchen
Our traditional German Cheesecake (Käsekuchen) has a crunchy crust, a rich, creamy filling full of sweet and tangy flavors, and a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Get the Recipe: German Cheesecake
German Potato Soup (Kartoffelsuppe)
This homemade creamy German Potato Soup (German: Kartoffelsuppe mit Wiener Würstchen) will warm you from the inside out!
Get the Recipe: German Potato Soup
German Bread & Bacon Dumpling (Speckknödel)
‘Knödel’ are German bread and bacon dumplings. They are tender, savory, and incredibly delicious, making a perfect and filling side dish. And the recipe is easier than the pronunciation.
Get the Recipe: German Bread and Bacon Dumpling – Speckknödel
Cheese Spaetzle (Käsespätzle)
You can think of Cheese Spaetzle (Käsespätzle recipe) as German Mac and Cheese. Tender homemade egg noodles are cooked to perfection in a deliciously cheesy cream sauce.
Get the Recipe: Cheese Spaetzle
German Chicken Schnitzel
Chicken Schnitzel is an easy twist on a classic German Schnitzel recipe. It’s got crispy on the outside and juicy chicken on the inside.
Get the Recipe: German Chicken Schnitzel
German Red Cabbage (Rotkohl)
Rotkohl, or Red Cabbage, is one of the most popular German side dishes. Beautiful purple-red cabbage is cooked till perfectly tender. This simple side dish perfectly balances savory, sweet, and sour.
Get the Recipe: German Red Cabbage (Rotkohl)
Rouladen
To make these mouthwatering German Rouladen, fill a thinly sliced steak with mustard, bacon, onion, and pickles. Braise in a red wine sauce until they are tender and irresistibly delicious.
Get the Recipe: Rouladen
Mulled Wine Cake (Glühweinkuchen)
This old-fashioned German Mulled Wine Cake is a delicious blend of pound cake, chocolate, and spiced wine.
Get the Recipe: Mulled Wine Cake
Maike Corbett is the founder and food blogger of Cheerful Cook, a popular recipe website featuring comfort food recipes from the US and Germany. She has been featured in numerous media outlets, including the AP Wire and MSN.