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FOOD AND DRINK

10 classic sweet treats to try at least once in Germany

Kaffee und Kuchen - or coffee and cake - is a strong German tradition. So of course there is a huge selection of sweet treats across the country. Here's 10 that we think you should try.

Published: 7 October 2022 16:40 CEST
A piece of Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte or black forest cake in Germany.
A piece of Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte or black forest cake in Germany. Photo: picture alliance / dpa | Patrick Seeger

Bienenstich

Despite its slightly disturbing name, the “bee sting cake” is a much-loved favourite in Germany, and you’ll find it in almost every bakery. It’s absolutely delicious and is likely to become one of your top choices for a Kaffee und Kuchen Pause (coffee and cake break). Components of this classic are a sweet yeast dough, a filling of vanilla or cream, honey and a topping of flaked almonds that caramelises during baking.

It also has an interesting back story. According to legend, a feud between the towns of Andernach and Linz escalated into violence when the former was attacked by the latter. However, the residents of Andernach managed to fend the residents of Linz off by throwing beehives at the attackers, who promptly fled. To celebrate the event, the people of Andernach invented the cake and named it after the event which inspired it. 

 
 
 
 
 
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Spritzkuchen

A specialty of Eberswalde, in north-eastern Germany, the Spritzkuchen is a bit like a sugar-glazed donut, but with a slightly different texture. The trick is that the dough gets cooked while the ingredients are mixed before it’s fried. These treats are said to have originated in 1832 in the town of Eberswalde in Brandenburg near Berlin.

A server with Spritzkuchen and doughnuts during a food event in Berlin in 2018.

A server with Spritzkuchen (on the right) and doughnuts during a food event in Berlin in 2018. Photo: picture alliance / Wolfgang Kumm/dpa | Wolfgang Kumm

READ ALSO: Kaffee und Kuchen – the history behind a very German tradition

Pflaumenkuchen

July through to October is plum season in Germany, so it’s the perfect time to get your hands on a slice of Pflaumenkuchen or “plum cake”. Bakeries are often lined with quartered plums called Zwetschgen nestled together on the delicious base. It’s also sometimes known as Zwetschgenkuchen. 

Pflaumenkuchen or plum cake being served.

Pflaumenkuchen or plum cake being served. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/dpa-tmn | Florian Schuh

Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte

It’s hard to compile a roundup of German deserts without mentioning the famous “black forest cake” or “gâteau” (pictured at the top of the article).

This delicious treat is considered one of the most popular German cakes and is known around the world. It typically consists of several layers of chocolate sponge with whipped cream and cherries. It also has whipped cream, maraschino cherries and chocolate shavings on top.

If a dessert is labelled as Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, then under German law it has to contain Kirschwasser, a brandy made from the distillation of morello cherries. 

READ ALSO: A guide to the best international supermarkets in Berlin

Frankfurter Kranz

Frankfurt’s speciality is the Frankfurter Kranz or “wreath”. This Bundt cake (baked in a Bundt pan) is typically layered with jam and buttercream and sprinkled with caramelised nuts. 

 
 
 
 
 
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Donauwelle

The Donauwelle or “Danube wave” likely gets its name from the wave-like pattern on this yummy sweet treat. This cake has layers of plain and chocolate pound cake combined and contains sour cherries. It’s usually topped with buttercream and chocolate glaze. The Donauwelle is baked on a sheet pan and then cut into rectangular pieces and served. 

 
 
 
 
 
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Käsekuchen

Germans love their cheesecake. The classic German Käsekuchen is made with Quark cheese, unlike the American type which uses cream cheese. The base is usually made of a shortcrust pastry, but there are quite different variants, such as bottomless cheesecake and variants with berries or other fruit.

 
 
 
 
 
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Prinzregententorte

If you’re in Bavaria, make sure to try out the Prinzregententorte, which is a torte consisting of at least six – and usually seven – thin layers of sponge cake interlaid with chocolate buttercream.

 
 
 
 
 
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Kalter Hund

The Kalter Hund – or “cold dog” is actually nothing to do with dogs. It’s a chocolate-style no-bake dessert that no doubt brings back sweet childhood memories back to many Germans. The Kalter Hund is generally made with a cocoa coconut fat cream and butter biscuits. The biscuits are layered in a loaf pan and spread with the cocoa cream.

Germany's Kalter Hund dessert being sliced up.

Germany’s Kalter Hund dessert being sliced up. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Stephanie Pilick

Hefezopf 

The Hefezopf, which literally means “yeast wreath” or “yeast braid” is a sweet bread popular in German-speaking countries and often in different variations across Europe. It’s a staple at Easter brunch with the family. The sweet yeast dough is divided into three parts, rolled into long “sausages” and then braided into a plait. Last but not least, it is brushed with a little milk and sprinkled with sugar before going into the oven. 

 
 
 
 
 
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FOOD AND DRINK

Where are the best places to taste Chinese hotpot in Germany?

Chinese hotpot has gained international popularity in recent years, including here in Germany. But where are the best places to taste it in Germany?

Published: 4 June 2024 16:52 CEST
Updated: 8 June 2024 12:09 CEST
Where are the best places to taste Chinese hotpot in Germany?

Called huǒguō (火锅) in Chinese, hotpot refers to a meal of meats, vegetables and mushrooms that are cooked in a rich, often spicy, broth and eaten with sauce. 

The “hotpot” refers to the large basin of broth, which is kept at a boil on the table, so that diners can cook the raw ingredients to their liking. Oftentimes the basin is split into two separate halves so that diners can have both spicy and savoury broths side by side.

If you’ve ever tried Japanese shabu-shabu, then you’ll find this style of cooking to be similar.

The origin of hotpot is thought to date back to around 200 AD, but it began gaining popularity in the west in the 1990s, brought to western countries by Chinese immigrants.

While still largely unknown to many Germans, hotpot has certainly gained notoriety in Deutschland in recent years. A number of new hotpot-specific restaurants have popped up in Berlin and other German cities recently.

Note that hotpot is designed to be shared among small groups of people. You can order a hotpot for two, but it’s not a dish for one. So you’ll want to save this experience for a date, or a meal out with friends.

Here are a few places to try hotpot in Germany:

XiaoLongKan (ShooLoongKan) in Berlin, Frankfurt and Düsseldorf 

Among China’s biggest hotpot restaurant chains, Xiaolongkan (written as ShooLoongKan in Berlin) operates three German franchises – in Berlin, Frankfurt and Düsseldorf.

Xiaolongkan is an obvious first choice for both hotpot veterans and first-times alike. The base soups are solid – with chilli, tomato and mushroom options – and the ingredients are fresh and beautifully presented. 

Additionally, the atmosphere is impressive. A review on the restaurant’s website notes: “The design inside looks exactly like in hot pot restaurants in China.” Which makes sense, considering that Xiaolongkan operates many of those hotpot restaurants in China. Still, between the red and gold colours, the ornamental tables and lanterns, and the selection of food and drinks not found elsewhere in Germany, the dining experience here feels otherworldly.

Note that the chilli broth comes in three levels of spiciness, and that the spice levels are based-on a Chinese palette – it is not reduced to accommodate German sensibilities. So if you order the chili broth, expect heat.

Lucky Star in Berlin

Located on Friedrichstrasse in Berlin’s Mitte neighbourhood, Lucky Star is a time tested local favourite.

Its interior is not as flashy as some of Germany’s newer hotpot restaurants, but what it lacks in looks it more than makes up for in price and quality.

As opposed to other hotpot restaurants where diners pay by the item, Lucky Star offers all-you-can-eat hotpot for €22,80 per person, making it one of the most affordable hotpot spots you can find. 

In addition to hotpot, Lucky Star also offers a rather extensive menu and Chinese and Szechuan dishes. 

AI generated image of hotpot

An AI generated image of hotpot. Image by Deeznutz1 | Pixabay

Berlin’s recent hotpot additions

In Berlin especially, the hotpot trend has really taken off in recent years with a number of new restaurants popping up recently.

A few of the other highly rated options include Ting Song in Charlottenburg and Huotang on Kurfürstendamm. Both locations offer refined, if wildly different aesthetic experiences: Ting Song describes its ambiance as “cozy and poetic” – think wooden tables and with white walls and traditional Chinese art – whereas Huotang looks very modern and colourful.

Another recent opener is Hotpot & Nudeln in the Friedrichshain neighbourhood. The favourite menu item here is a little different – its malatang rather than huǒguō hotpot.

Malatang (麻辣烫) is named for the mala pepper that gives the soup a spicy and numbing flavour. But more practically, this malatang is served in an individual bowl rather than a massive basin of broth to be shared around the table, making Hotpot & Nudeln a good choice for single diners with a craving for hotpot.

Chois Hotpot & Lounge and malatang options in Munich

Residents of Munich don’t need to venture far to tuck into some hot and spicy broth – Chois Hotpot & Lounge serves up all-you-can-eat hotpot right on Tumblingerstraße, near the Goetheplatz U-bahn station.

Chois offers a unique pacing structure to its all-you-can-eat menu, by bringing a new round of dishes out every 15 minutes for up to two hours, as long as guests are still hungry.

Munich is also home to a number of small malatang restaurants, such as YGF or Mr. Mala Hotpot, which are humble little restaurants quickly serving up individual soups.

In many malatang restaurants, you’ll find an assortment of raw meats, seafoods, vegetables and mushrooms offered in a self-service buffet counter. You fill up a bowl with whatever you want and then choose a flavour of broth. The cook will then boil the contents of your bowl in the broth you selected and serve you a bowl of hotpot soup.

In this case, you are charged according to the weight of the ingredients you select.

READ ALSO: ‘Meat drowned in sauce’ – Germany’s biggest food culture shocks for foreigners

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