Five Christmas Market Foods You Must Eat
Merry Christmas from Germany! By now you know that we love visiting the Christmas markets in Europe, especially the German Christmas markets! So,we wanted to share the five things you must eat at the German Christmas markets. Whether you’r in Munich, Berlin or a smaller German town, these classic Christmas market foods will be served up at all of them.
Christmas Market Food #1 Glühwein
The first thing you have to try at a German Christmas market is the glühwein. It’s a hot,mulled wine. A lot of times, the glühwein comes in a cute little ceramic mug. It’s usually cold at the Christmas market, so a hot drink is essential for staying warm. (When you buy your glühwein, you’ll be charged a deposit on the mug. Return the mug to get your deposit back, or keep it for a souvenir.)
Christmas Market Food #2 Bratwurst
One of the things I love about the Christmas markets is the half-meter bratwurst. Even the smaller ones are really tasty, so make sure you try a bratwurst at the Christmas market. (I like mine with mustard!)
Christmas Market Food #3 Gingerbread
After a bratwurst and some mulled wine, you’ll be ready for some sweets. One of the favorite treats at the Christmas market is the gingerbread,or lebkuchen. It’s a bit spicier in Germany than in the US, and they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. The small ones are great to eat; and then there are giant hearts, but I find those aren’t as tasty.
Christmas Market Food #4 Nuts
You’ve got to “go nuts” at the Christmas markets. There are two kinds that I recommend trying. If you can find roasted chestnuts, get them! The candied almonds, or gebrannte mandeln, are also fantastic! Eat them when they are warm; it’s delicious!
Christmas Market Food #5 Schmalzkuchen
Another classic Christmas market food is the schmalzkuchen. These are little fried pieces of dough with powdered sugar. They’re the Christmas market version of donut holes. If you like then, then you’ll also want to try the Quarkbällchen, which is a bigger version.
Christmas Market Food #6 Regional Specialties
The five Christmas market foods above can be found across Germany. However, each region will also have specialty foods that you should try. In Dresden, they are known for Stollen, a dense fruity bread. Other parts of the country will have other specialties, so find out what’s unique where you are, and give it a shot!
For more tips about Christmas in Europe, check out these blogposts and videos: