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Christmas market food & drink, explained
A guide to every dish and drink you will encounter at a German Weihnachtsmarkt, from Glühwein to Schmalzkuchen.
5 min readDrinks
- Glühwein — Hot mulled red wine spiced with cinnamon, cloves, star anise and orange peel. The definitive Christmas market drink. Served in a ceramic mug with a refundable deposit. Every city has its own recipe — Cologne's is sweeter, Dresden's is spicier.
- Weißer Glühwein — The white wine version, lighter and fruitier. Popular in Stuttgart and Nuremberg. Often made with Riesling or Silvaner.
- Kinderpunsch — Alcohol-free hot punch made from apple juice, cherry juice and spices. The children's equivalent of Glühwein — widely available and genuinely delicious.
- Feuerzangenbowle — A theatrical drink where a rum-soaked sugarloaf is set alight over a bowl of wine. The caramelised rum drips in as it burns. A spectacle as much as a drink — look for stalls with the distinctive pointed tongs.
- Pharisäer — A Hamburg speciality: strong black coffee topped with a large measure of rum and a dome of fresh cream. Stirring is considered wrong — drink through the cream.
- Eierpunsch — An egg-based warm punch similar to eggnog, popular in Saxony and Thuringia. Rich, sweet and alcoholic.
Savoury food
- Bratwurst — Grilled pork sausage — the universal market food. Every region has a variation: Nuremberg's are thin and served three-to-a-roll, Thuringia's are fat and smoky, Frankfurt's are long and mild.
- Käsespätzle — Soft egg noodles tossed with melted cheese and fried onions. A Swabian comfort dish particularly prominent in Stuttgart markets.
- Maultaschen — Large pasta pockets filled with minced meat, spinach and onion — sometimes called "Swabian ravioli". Stuttgart's signature market dish.
- Reibekuchen — Crispy potato fritters served with apple sauce or sour cream. A Cologne and Rhineland staple.
- Flammlachs — Salmon grilled on an open alder-wood plank over a flame. Impressive to watch and delicious. Common in Baden-Württemberg markets.
- Fischbrötchen — Open bread rolls topped with pickled herring, smoked salmon or fried fish. A Hamburg market signature.
Sweet food & baked goods
- Lebkuchen — Spiced gingerbread in various forms — soft rounds, decorated hearts, or the hard hexagonal Elisenlebkuchen from Nuremberg. One of the oldest Christmas foods in Germany.
- Dresdner Stollen — A dense, buttery loaf packed with raisins, marzipan and candied peel, dusted in icing sugar. The original comes from Dresden and is protected by EU designation — look for the official seal.
- Schmalzkuchen — Tiny fried dough pillows dusted in icing sugar. Hot, cheap and irresistible. Sold by the bag.
- Gebrannte Mandeln — Caramelised roasted almonds — the smell defines Christmas markets. Also available with hazelnuts, cashews or walnuts.
- Zimtsterne — Cinnamon-star biscuits made from almond paste and egg white icing. A traditional Advent biscuit found across all markets.
- Bethmännchen — Small marzipan balls decorated with three almond halves — a Frankfurt Christmas speciality dating to 1838.
- Crepes — Thin pancakes with Nutella, jam or sugar and lemon. A modern staple at every market regardless of region.
Tip: The best strategy is to eat one thing at a time and walk between stalls. Portions are large and the temptation is real — pace yourself.