41 German Classics Straight from Oma’s Recipe Box

ByJennifer

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. Best of all you don’t have to speak German to enjoy these classic German recipes.

Spaezle (Spätzle)

German Spaetzle (Spätzle) recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

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

German Lemon Sponge Cake

Glazed German Lemon Sheet Cake recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

Light and airy, sweet and moist this lemon-infused and glazed German Sponge Cake is incredibly delicious and also easy to make.

Get the Recipe: German Lemon Sponge Cake

Oma’s German Cucumber Salad

Oma's German Cucumber Salad recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

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

Classic German Currywurst

German Currywurst recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

Currywurst is a simple, flavorful dish that brings a lot of warmth and comfort to the table. With its tangy sauce and savory sausages, it’s an easy go-to meal that doesn’t require much effort but delivers big on taste.

Get the Recipe: Classic German Currywurst

Potato Dumplings

German Potato Dumplings recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

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 Potato Pancakes

German Potato Pancake recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

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

Traditional German Crumb Cake (Streuselkuchen) recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

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

Warm German Potato Salad

Warm German Potato Salad recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

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

Creamy German Cucumber Salad

Creamy German Cucumber Salad recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

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

Bee Sting Cake

Easy Bee Sting Cake recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

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 Bread & Bacon Dumpling (Speckknödel)

German Bread and Bacon Knoedel (German Speckknödel).
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

‘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

German Fried Bacon Cabbage Noodles – Krautfleckerl

Fried Cabbage Noodle recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

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

German Butter Cake

Butterkuchen recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

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)

German Cherry Crumb Cake – Kirschstreusel

German Cherry Crumb Cake recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

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

Spekulatius

Spekulatius recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

Speklatius are buttery German shortbread cookies made with gently warming spices. Perfect for snacking during the holidays.

Get the Recipe: Spekulatius

German Hunter-Schnitzel (Jägerschnitzel)

German Schnitzel with Mushroom Gravy by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

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

Frikadellen

Frikadellen recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

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

Green Beans with Bacon and Onion (German Speckbohnen)

Green Beans and Bacon recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

Perfectly blanched fresh green potatoes are cooked to perfection in a simple bacon and onion sauce. Based on German Speckbohnen.

Get the Recipe: German Green Beans With Bacon And Onion

Old-Fashioned German Raisin Bread

Irish raisin bread with butter on a white plate.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

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

German Apple Cake

German Apple Cake recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

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 Potato Soup

German Potato Soup recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

This homemade creamy German Potato Soup (German: Kartoffelsuppe mit Wiener Würstchen) will warm you from the inside out!

Get the Recipe: German Potato Soup

Vanillekipferl

German Vanillekipferl (English: German Crescent CookieS) recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

Meet your new favorite German Cookies! Vanillekipferl (also known as Almond Crescent Cookies) will simply melt in your mouth.

Get the Recipe: Vanillekipferl

German Apple Pancakes (Apfelpfannkuchen)

German Apple Pancake recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

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 Strawberry Torte

A slice of strawberry cheesecake on a fork.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

Strawberry Torte is a delicious, classic German sponge cake with a creamy pudding layer and topped with glazed strawberries.

Get the Recipe: German Strawberry Torte

German Ham And Noodle Casserole – Nudelauflauf

German Ham & Noodle Casserole by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

We love this quick and easy Ham and Noodle Casserole. Tender pasta, topped with a simple egg and cream sauce and finished with Swiss cheese.

Get the Recipe: German Ham And Noodle Casserole

German Cheesecake

German Cheesecake recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

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 Salad

Classic Cold German Potato Salad recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

This traditional cold German Potato Salad is delicious. Made with just 5 ingredients, it’s perfect for lunch, barbecues, or potlucks. This salad is more popular in the northern parts of Germany but not as well known in the United States as the Warm German potato salad. Both are delicious in their own right.

Get the Recipe: Potato Salad

Cheese Spaetzle (Käsespätzle)

German Cheese Spaetzle (Käsespätzle) recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

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 Onion Pie With Bacon

Onion Pie recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

Onion Pie is a traditional German dish. Made with an easy yeast dough that’s loaded with a mouthwatering onion, bacon, egg, and cheese!

Get the Recipe: German Onion Pie With Bacon (Zwiebelkuchen)

German Chicken Schnitzel

German Chicken Schnitzel recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

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

German Red Cabbage recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

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

Cinnamon Twists

Cinnamon Twists recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

These homemade cinnamon twists are sweet, buttery, crunchy, and just incredibly delicious. They will melt in your mouth.

Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Twists

Rouladen

German Beef Rouladen recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

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

German Flatbread Pizza with Bacon and Onion – Flammkuchen

German Bacon and Onion Pizza recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

Flammkuchen is a foolproof German flatbread pizza ready in only 30 minutes. The base of a Flammkuchen (flame cake) is wafer-thin dough. And the secret to this recipe is that we use puff pastry to create the dough!

Get the Recipe: German Flatbread Pizza with Bacon and Onion – Flammkuchen

Asparagus Soup

Asparagus Soup recipe by Christina’s Cucina.
Photo Credit: Christina’s Cucina.

Asparagus soup is one of the most surprisingly flavorful soups you’ll ever taste. This recipe is a delicious way to highlight the vegetable.

Get the Recipe: Asparagus Soup

Zimtsterne: German Cinnamon Stars

Zimtsterne: German Cinnamon Stars recipe by Christina’s Cucina.
Photo Credit: Christina’s Cucina.

Zimtsterne, or German Cinnamon Stars, are a light, gluten free cookie which make fabulous culinary gifts and keep for weeks.

Get the Recipe: Zimtsterne: German Cinnamon Stars

German Kassler Chops With Sauerkraut & Creamy Horseradish Sauce

German Kassler Chops With Sauerkraut & Creamy Horseradish Sauce recipe by The Peasant’s Daughter.
Photo Credit: The Peasant’s Daughter.

German Kasseler chops with sauerkraut is a traditional Oktoberfest recipe, but I love to make this family favorite all year long. Kasseler is a salted and lightly smoked pork loin chop that is flavorful, very tender, and simple to prepare.

Get the Recipe: German Kassler Chops With Sauerkraut & Creamy Horseradish Sauce

Beer Brats

Beer Brats recipe by Valerie’s Kitchen.
Photo Credit: Valerie’s Kitchen.

This Beer Brats recipe cooks on the grill with sauerkraut in one pan from start to finish. The perfect choice for tailgating and BBQ’s.

Get the Recipe: Beer Brats

Sauerbraten (German Pot Roast)

Sauerbraten (German Pot Roast) recipe by The View from Great Island.
Photo Credit: The View from Great Island.

Authentic German Sauerbraten recipe from my grandfather’s kitchen, make this braised chuck roast on the stove, in the oven or in the crock pot!

Get the Recipe: Sauerbraten (German Pot Roast)

Pfeffernusse Cookies

Pfeffernusse Cookies recipe by I Heart Eating.
Photo Credit: I Heart Eating.

Pfeffernusse cookies are a traditional German Christmas cookie that are made with molasses, warm spices, and a pinch of white pepper.

Get the Recipe: Pfeffernusse Cookies

German Plum Cake

German Plum Cake recipe by Marcellina In Cucina.
Photo Credit: Marcellina In Cucina.

This German Plum Cake with buttery streusel topping is a tender coffee cake that’s easily made from scratch with fresh summer fruit!

Get the Recipe: German Plum Cake

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