Hi there, friends! As Christmas is right around the corner, I’ve decided to put together a special Christmas Food post for you. 🎄 Want to immerse yourself in a German way of celebrating Christmas? Then what better way to do it than by cooking typical Christmas food? So, what exactly is typical for Christmas in Germany?

Let’s start with Christmas Eve dinner! And these traditional foods vary from family to family and from region to region. One of the best-known traditions however is Würstchen mit Kartoffelsalat (sausages with potato salad). For some families, though, it’s traditional to attend Midnight Mass on this day, and the dinner excludes meat, being replaced instead by fish.

The next day, Christmas day itself is celebrated by roasted goose or duck, and in many cases carp (Karpfen). The meat and fish is typically served alongside Knödel (dumplings), Kartoffelpuffer (potato fritters), and red cabbage or Sauerkraut.

Personally, I love Knödel and Kartofellpuffer! They’re simply amazing — but then again, I’m Ukrainian, and we eat a lot of dumplings and potatoes, so that love kind of makes sense. 😄

Christmas in Germany is also rich in drinks. Among the most popular are Glühwein (mulled wine), Eierlikör (egg liqueur, similar to eggnog), and Feuerzangenbowle (fire tongs punch — hot rum punch set aflame over mulled wine) 🔥. You can usually find Glühwein at any Christmas market, served in beautiful Christmas mugs. You’ll often pay an extra 1–2 euros for the mug as a deposit, and afterward you can either return it for your money back or keep it for your very own Christmas collection. You can also find Eierlikör and Feuerzangenbowle depending on Christmas market and your location.

There’s something simply wonderful about grabbing one of those hot drinks on a cold winter day and enjoying it with friends. ☕ If you prefer a non-alcoholic option, hot cocoa with cinnamon is just as amazing, and so is hot fruit punch.

There are a few typical Christmas desserts you’re bound to try during the season in Germany! One of the most popular is Christmas Stollen (a spiced fruitcake) 🍞 — you can also find it in almost every supermarket. Other typical treats include Lebkuchen (gingerbread) and Plätzchen (Christmas cookies/biscuits) 🍪. Some households also make Bratapfel (baked apples) for dessert, or a variation of Kartoffelpuffer served with apple sauce — which is delicious. I’ve tried it at the Christmas market many times, and I’m in love. 😍

What I also enjoy is the sheer number of different Christmas chocolates in the supermarkets — mostly chocolate Santas. I get lots and lots of tose every year!

And now, a good tip for you! If you want to get a special Christmas meal and treat yourself to roasted duck or goose, the nice idea is to visit local German butcher (Metzgerei). Many accept order for the goose or duck well in advance and those can make your celebration extra special. Some even have a dedicated sign-up sheet or online form available in early November. So, knowing that people take Christmas celebration here seriously, it is worth doing it as soon as possible. Planning is in high regards in Germany (and survining here with ADHD is indeed challenging).

And what is your favorite German Christmas food? 👇

Thank you for reading my post! I hope you enjoyed it. Want to know more about life in Germany? Subscribe to my blog and social media! 💌