When you think of German food you probably think of a heavy, leaning towards fat, meal: hearty meat portions drenched in rich sauces alongside baked squash and a full glass of beer. But German baking shouldn’t be overlooked. In fact, it has influenced baking traditions around the world for generations to come. It includes seasonal cakes, pastries, and holiday favorites such as the famous German Christmas Cookies.
But you don’t have to visit Germany in order to enjoy its rich baking tradition (though it might help!). Luisa Weiss’ adored cookbook, Classic German Baking, offers the very best recipes for traditional favorites, from Pfeffernüsse to Streuselkuchen. An authoritative collection of recipes, it offers more than 100 rigorously researched and tested recipes, gathered from expert bakers, friends, family, and time-honored sources throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Amongst her favorite recipes, Weiss talks of the lebkuchen-powidltatschkerln [plum-filled gingerbread pockets]. “They’re little rye cookies that you fill with plum paste and pull together and crimp,” she shared. “They’re delicious and chewy and fruity.”
Whether you’re in the mood for the simple yet emblematic Streuselkuchen, crisp and flaky Strudel, or classic breakfast Brötchen, you’re sure to find the best recipes in her book, along with detailed advice to ensure success plus delightful storytelling about the origins, meaning, and rituals behind them. A great way to experience German culture without actually getting out of the house…
You can purchase Classic German Baking on Amazon.