There are so many great German Christmas market foods to try, whatever your preference is! From crispy fries and savoury flatbread pizzas to braised mushrooms, marzipan treats, and fluffy marshmallows, the variety is endless. Just be sure to arrive hungry—you won’t want to miss a single bite!
Table of contents
Whether you’re after something sweet or savoury, there’s something you’ll enjoy in this guide to German Christmas market foods! And don’t forget to wash it down with a tasty seasonal drink afterwards
German Christmas Market Foods: What you NEED to try!
What you need to know
- What is typically sold at a Christmas market in Germany? You’ll find plenty of German Christmas foods and traditional German dishes at the markets. Lots of sausage and potato dishes as well as plenty of alcoholic beverages!
- What is the most popular food at Christmas markets? Traditional German Christmas market foods are often the most popular. If you’re wondering which German Christmas market foods to buy things like sausage, mulled wine and potato pancakes are often favoured.
- What to buy at German Christmas Markets? I would go with buying whatever smells good, which is honestly pretty much everything but it all tastes great. Just go with your favourites!
German Christmas Market Food – Savoury
Flammkuchen (Flatbread Pizza)
If you’re craving a pizza look out for Flammkuchen! It’s flat bread covered in crème fraîche and a variety of different toppings, traditionally cheese, onions and bacon. It’s then cooked in a wood-fired oven giving it the perfect crispy base! I’ve had this at a few markets/fairs and it’s definitely one of my favourite German Christmas market foods!
Reibekuchen / Kartoffelpuffer (Potato Pancakes)
These are top of my must-try German Christmas market foods! They’re fried potato pancakes which are super crispy on the outside but nice and soft inside. They’re often served with applesauce or sour cream, my recommendation has to be applesauce, they’re so good!
Wurst (Sausage)
A staple among German Christmas market foods is, of course, wurst. Usually served as a hotdog, there’s often a huge variety of flavours, sizes and shapes (have you ever seen a spiral sausage?) to choose from meaning there’s something for everyone! Here are a few of the most common varieties:
Weißwurst (Weisswurst)
Coming from Bavaria, the Weißwurst is a white sausage made of bacon, veal and a variety of spices. Don’t let the colour put you off, they’re very good!
Bratwurst
Probably the closest you’ll get to a regular ‘sausage’ is the Bratwurst. It’s made of pork and herbs and is very popular at Christmas markets.
Currywurst
Normally served alongside fries, Currywurst is sausage topped with curry tomato sauce and a variety of spices including paprika and curry powder
Pommes Frites (Fries)
While they’re not uniquely German, chances are you’ll come across several stores selling fries. There’s nothing different about them here, I find that mayonnaise tends to be people’s topping of choice but there will always be other sauces available.
Handbrot (Stuffed bread)
Hailing from Dresden, Handbrot consists of warm bread filled traditionally with cheese and ham and topped with chive cream. You can find different combinations of fillings including vegetarian options, but the classic is the most popular. It’s the perfect treat if you’re looking for something to warm your hands too!
Gebrannte Mandeln (Candied Almonds/cashews)
One of the quintessential treats you’ll encounter at a German Christmas market is roasted nuts. They’re a staple at any good market and if you’re thinking to yourself, ‘What’s that delicious smell?’ this will usually be the source! Sometimes you’ll find them in various flavours including chocolate and cinnamon.
Knoblauchbrot (Garlic Bread)
Warm garlic bread at a Christmas market is absolutely a winning combination. This usually has the addition of sour cream and can also come with a couple of different toppings. I’ve seen a pizza version as well as one topped with bacon.
Käsespätzel (Cheesey pasta/noodles)
Coming from southern regions, Spätzel is essentially a small kind of pasta, so throw in some Käse (cheese) and you have some warm cheesy pasta goodness. Sometimes it will have a crunchy breadcrumb layer baked on top and come with crispy onions, I’ve also seen it served with bacon.
Raclette (Scraped Cheese)
If you’re a cheese lover, be sure to find the Raclette stall immediately! If you’ve never heard of it, picture a giant wheel of cheese, cut in half, warming up under a heater. Once the top layer of cheese is melted it’s scraped onto your dish, usually bread or potatoes, in a tidal wave of cheesy goodness. Add on a few extra toppings like bacon or onions and you’re good to go!
Champignons (Braised Mushrooms)
If you’re a fan of mushrooms, this one’s for you. Mushrooms are cooked and served warm with an incredibly creamy garlic sauce. They’re a great vegetarian option and also make for a great snack on a chilly night!
Maroni (Roasted Chestnuts)
Another staple among German Christmas market foods is, of course, roasted chestnuts. And yes, the chestnuts are roasted on an open fire! They’re not typically flavoured with anything but nevertheless, it’s a popular snack. Nothing says Christmas quite like a bag of warm chestnuts!
Schupfnudeln (Potato Dumplings)
A kind of German cousin to potato gnocchi, Schupfnudeln are a finger-shaped potato dough traditionally served with sauerkraut. Other toppings are available and they make for a good warming and hearty meal while walking around a Christmas market.
German Christmas Market Food – Sweet
Lebkuchen (Spiced biscuit)
The king of the German Christmas market foods has to be Lebkuchen. You’ll see stalls decorated with all shapes and sizes of these biscuits, from giant hearts to smaller more ornate varieties. They’re not exactly gingerbread, but they’re very close. Lebkuchen tends to be softer and more moist with less of the ginger flavour.
Waffles
Always a popular sweet treat at German Christmas markets, waffles are always a great pick for dessert. There’s usually an endless list of toppings for these whether you want to keep it healthy with fruit (okay maybe it isn’t that healthy!) or just drench the entire thing in melted chocolate, it’s up to you!
Mutzenmandeln (Fried dough balls)
I love these because you usually tend to get quite a lot for your money. It’s pretty much just deep-fried dough with a heap of powdered sugar on top, but hey, if it works it works! They’re delicious on their own and you don’t usually see them with any other toppings offered. They’re a solid staple of German Christmas market foods and are great for sharing!
Stollen
Another cornerstone of the German Christmas market foods is, of course, stollen. A dense fruit cake packed with spices, raisins and candied fruits, it’s a favourite among many. Want a stollen fun fact? Its shape is actually supposed to represent baby Jesus in swaddling clothes!
Fruchtspieße (Fruit Skewers)
Easy to grab and go, fruit skewers are another simple yet popular choice. Have them plain or drench them in chocolate, there’s often a variety of different fruits to choose from. A great choice if you want to feel like you’ve at least tried to be slightly healthy!
Schaumkuss/Schokokuss (Marshmallows)
If you like a chocolate tea cake, you’ll love a Schaumkuss. They’re chocolate-covered marshmallows on a biscuit base that come in a variety of flavours. I’ve seen some types get pretty fancy in their flavour and decor so even if marshmallows aren’t usually your thing, you might just discover a Schaumkuss that wins you over!
Marzipan
One of the oldest German Christmas market foods is marzipan. Made of ground almonds, honey and sugar I could happily devour a whole block of it, but I know it isn’t to everyone’s taste. You can get it in a few varieties, including being dusted in cocoa or cinnamon as well as marzipan shaped as different fruits and animals!
German Christmas Market Drinks
Glühwein (Mulled Wine)
Warm, spiced wine, Glühwein is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks you’ll find at any German Christmas market. It’s perfect for keeping you warm as you wander around the market and there’s nothing like the smell of all those warm spices to get you in the festive mood!
Glühbier (Mulled Beer)
Of course, the Germans found a way to make their beer more festive! Spices are added to the beer which is then served warm, exactly the same as mulled wine but for beer lovers instead!
Feuerzangenbowle (Fire tongs punch)
Feuerzangenbowle is one of the more exciting drinks you’ll come across at German Christmas markets. It’s a mulled wine served with a sugar cube soaked in rum resting on top of it, the sugar is then lit on fire allowing it to melt and drip down into the drink, it’s definitely worth trying if you’ve never had it before!
Eierpunsch (Egg Punch)
Eierpunsch is a popular festive drink found at German Christmas markets. Made with a rich blend of egg yolks, white wine, sugar, and orange juice, it’s often topped with a swirl of whipped cream. Some versions even include seasonal spices, adding a cosy, wintery twist to this traditional treat.
Grog
Hot water, sugar, and rum combine to create another beloved Christmas drink in Grog. Particularly popular in northern cities, its simplicity has made it a staple at Christmas markets, offering a cosy, warming treat during the festive season.
Heiße Schokolade (Hot Chocolate)
It simply wouldn’t be Christmastime without hot chocolate! You’ll find this festive classic at every Christmas market, usually served up in some pretty interesting mugs that you can pay extra to keep. Whether you prefer yours topped with a generous swirl of whipped cream or spiked with your favourite tipple, it’s the perfect way to indulge in a little holiday cheer.
Kinderpunsch (Kids Christmas Punch)
If you’re avoiding alcohol but still want to enjoy a festive mulled drink, Kinderpunsch is just the thing for you! This cosy, alcohol-free treat is made by warming fruit juices, aromatic spices, and fruit tea together, creating the perfect toasty beverage.
Summary
There’s a reason Christmas markets in Germany are world-famous, there’s so much incredible food at German Christmas markets to try, you’re spoilt for choice! My personal favourite has to be the crispy potato pancakes but I’ll never say no to fried dough balls!
