29 german cookie recipes

German gingerbread cookies (Lebkuchen-style) with ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and dark molasses. A classic Christmas cookie that bakes drop-style or chills overnight for cookie-cutter shapes.

It all began in a small village in the Black Forest of Germany, where a group of mischievous elves tried creating a cookie to make people dance joyfully. They stumbled upon anise, a magical spice with a sweet and licorice-like flavor, and decided to use it in their cookie recipe.

Kekstorte is a classic German no-bake cookie cake layering crisp butter cookies with rum-spiked cocoa-coconut cream, chilled overnight in a loaf pan until sliceable and rich.

Pfeffernuesse German pepper cookies with molasses, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and black pepper, rolled in powdered sugar. Small, spicy, and deeply aromatic holiday cookies from the old country.

Pfeffernusse-style German pepper cookies with white pepper, cinnamon, mixed spice, candied peel, and lemon zest. Small, puffy spice balls dusted in powdered sugar.

German springerle Christmas cookies: anise-scented egg-and-sugar dough pressed with carved wooden molds, dried overnight, and baked low to set the embossed pattern.

Traditionally baked during 'Sinterklaas', a feast on 5 December (6 December in Belgium and Germany) on which little children receive gifts from the holy St. Nicholas, the partial inspiration for Santa Claus. In Germany, Pfeffernüsse are traditionally made during the Christmas season.

Lemon glaze made with egg white, powdered sugar, fresh lemon zest, and lemon juice. A smooth, glossy icing for cookies, cakes, and German-style baked goods.

Traditional German Springerle cookies with anise oil, stamped with carved molds and dried overnight before baking to a pale straw color. This heirloom recipe makes 72 delicate, picture-perfect cookies.

Traditional German lebkuchen cookies with honey, molasses, almonds, candied fruit, and five warm spices. Soft, chewy spice cookies brushed with lemon glaze for a classic Christmas treat.

Pfeffernuesse are traditional German pepper nut cookies spiced with cinnamon, cloves, mace, nutmeg, and allspice. Tiny rounds dried overnight and finished with a drop of brandy.

German honey spice cookies rolled into bite-sized balls with cinnamon, cloves, allspice, mace, and black pepper, then dipped in a sweet vanilla glaze. A traditional Pfeffernusse-style holiday cookie.

Buttery German almond crescents dusted with powdered sugar, made with ground almonds and double extracts for a melt-in-your-mouth holiday cookie.

Authentic springerle, the embossed German anise Christmas cookies. Egg dough pressed with carved molds, dried overnight, then baked low so the white design stays crisp. Aged to mellow the flavor.

German-style honey spice bars with cinnamon, allspice, cloves, ground almonds, and lemon zest, finished with a rum-almond glaze. These keep for weeks in a sealed container, making them ideal holiday baking.

German springerle, the classic embossed anise cookie made with eggs, sugar, flour, and crushed anise seed. Patterned with a springerle roller and dried overnight to lock in the design before baking.