What is the name of the special Christmas cookies in Germany?
Michael Henderson
Published Feb 25, 2026
What is the name of the special Christmas cookies in Germany?
Vanillekipferl (German Vanilla Crescent Cookies) are traditional German Christmas Cookies made with ground nuts and dusted with vanilla sugar! They are tender, nutty and melt in your mouth. A perfect cookie to make ahead that’s always a hit. Probably every German grandmother makes Vanillekipferl at Christmas time.
Where do Lebkuchen cookies come from?
Germany
Lebkuchen/Origins
Lebkuchen was started in November and baked in December after undergoing this fermentation period. Lebkuchen was invented by monks in Franconia, Germany in the 13th century. Lebkuchen bakers were recorded as early as 1296 in Ulm, and 1395 in Nürnberg (Nuremberg).
What is Lebkuchen Likor?
Lebkuchen – pronounced LAYB-kue-chn – and sometimes called Pfefferkuchen is a German baked Christmas treat somewhat resembling gingerbread. The cookies can be glazed or not glazed.
What is oblaten made of?
Oblaten Lebkuchen are distinguished by a signature edible wafer (collectively called Oblaten in German) on the bottom. The wafers are made from wheat flour, starch, and water.
What does Pfeffernüsse mean in German?
peppernuts
In Germany, pfeffernüsse is associated with Christmas. The cookie has been part of yuletide celebrations since the 1850s. The name literally means “peppernuts” (Pfeffernüsse, pebernød etc.) The cookies are roughly the size of nuts and can be eaten by the handful, which may account for the name.
Are Lebkuchen biscuits or cakes?
VFOOD6200 states “Lebkuchen are small pieces of chocolate covered gingerbread, these look similar to sweets and are often packed like confectionery but are in fact small cakes.” Therefore, Lebkuchen are zero-rated.
What’s the difference between gingerbread and Lebkuchen?
– Lebkuchen are a traditional German cookie given as gifts at Christmas that date back to the 1300’s. – Very similar to gingerbread but much darker, more dense and rich, and chewier. Lebkuchen is never crunchy. – Made with honey, whereas gingerbread uses molasses.
Is gingerbread and Lebkuchen the same?
is that gingerbread is a type of cake whose main flavouring is ginger and that is typically cut into human-shaped pieces called gingerbread men or built into house-shaped cakes called gingerbread houses while lebkuchen is a traditional german christmas biscuit form of gingerbread.
Who eats lebkuchen?
There’s really only one “L” when it comes to Christmas in Germany, and that’s the country’s much-loved Lebkuchen. Invented in the middle ages by monks in Franconia, a region that now lies mostly in Bavaria, Lebkuchen is not dissimilar to gingerbread: soft, warmly spiced and a little bit chewy.
What is German oblaten?
Oblaten are crisp, white wheat wafers that are available in specialty food shops. If you do not have a specialty food shop that handles oblaten, check with a local religious supply house.
What are back oblaten in English?
Back-Oblaten
| Translation | rice paper wafers | |
|---|---|---|
| Comment | I have seen them sold under that name in Great Britain. | |
| #6 | Author | Carola |