The Delights of German Bakeries: A Guide to Baked Goods in Germany

Germany is renowned for many things: precision engineering, Christmas markets, beer, punctuality, and pretzels. However, among these, their bread and pretzels truly deserve international attention.

Where to Buy Baked Goods in Germany

There are three primary places to purchase baked goods in Germany: grocery stores, bakeries, and Konditoreis.

1. *Grocery Stores*: Chains like ALDI, Kaufland, and Lidl have their own bakery sections with clear plastic cabinets to grab various pastries and bread rolls. These are usually the cheapest option, but the quality often reflects the price. My advice is to steer clear of them.

2. *Konditoreis*: These are high-end dessert shops focusing more on cakes than bread. You can get top-quality cakes, and they are usually geared towards people who want to sit in and enjoy their desserts. There is, however, a fair amount of overlap with the modern German bakery.

3. *Bakeries*: The pinnacle for bread lovers. Bread is a national art in Germany, even classified as a piece of Germany’s intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2014. German flour is different from American flour; it tends to be coarser, contain less protein, and have a higher ash content, contributing to its stronger flavor. According to the Central Association of the German Bakery Trade, there are supposedly 3,200 different types of bread. Both breakfast and dinner are traditionally bread-based meals.

What to Order in a German Bakery

Here are some must-try items when visiting a German bakery:

- *Quarkbällchen*: Similar to donut holes but with a light, airy, and moist texture. Made from quark, a thick German dairy product similar to Greek yogurt, these delicacies are rolled in cinnamon sugar and typically sold in pre-portioned paper bags.

- *Butterbrezel*: A traditional butter pretzel. The buttery, salty mixture makes it worth the extra butter charge. Best enjoyed in Germany’s southern regions, where they originated.

- *Puddingbrezel*: The sweet cousin of the Butterbrezel. Made with flaky buttery dough, the pretzel shape has a well of pudding in the center, topped with a simple white sugar glaze. Absolute perfection!

- *Laugencroissant*: A simple pretzel croissant combining the best of both worlds.

- *Kürbiskern Brötchen*: Bread rolls with pumpkin seeds.

- *Wiener Hörnchen*: A sweet circular almond horn often dipped in chocolate with a marzipan-like inside.

- *Schokocroissants*: Chocolate croissants for a delightful breakfast treat.

What to Avoid

While German bakeries have a lot to offer, there are some items you might want to skip:

- *Amerikaner*: I find these overly sweet and flavorless, not living up to the quality of other German baked goods.

Conclusion

German bakeries offer a delightful range of baked goods that reflect the country's rich culinary heritage. From savory pretzels to sweet treats, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Next time you're in Germany, be sure to visit a local bakery and try some of these delicious recommendations!

Sources:

European Flour Vs American Flour: Which One Reigns Supreme In The Kitchen? - Cookindocs

11 things you're sure to find in a German bakery – DW – 08/20/2015

German bread and bread culture (deutschland.de)

German Pizza - Flammkuchen - All Tastes German

The Germans are famous for many things; from precision engineering, to christmas markets, a hatred of a certain religious group, beer, punctuality and pretzels. But of that list, their bread and pretzels are deserving of international attention.

There are three obvious places where you can purchase baked goods in Germany: grocery stores, bakeries, and Konditoreis. Grocery stores like ALDI, Kaufland, and Lidl have their own bakery section complete with clear plastic cabinets to to grab various pastries and bread rolls from. These grocery stores are usually the cheapest option and the quality reflects that. My advice is to steer clear of them. Second, is the Konditorei, this is less bakery focused on bread but instead a high end dessert shop. You can get top quality cakes! They are usually geared towards people sitting in. However, there is a fair amount of overlap with the modern German bakery. Finally, at the top of the list, heaven for bread lovers is the German bakery.

Bread is a national art, it was even classified as a piece of Germany’s intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2014. Interestingly, German flour is different from American flour in how it’s milled; it tends to be coarser, contain less protein and a higher ash content which contributes to its stronger flavor. There are supposedly even 3,200 different types of bread according to the Central Association of the German Bakery Trade. Additionally, both breakfast and dinner are traditionally bread based meals. Despite how good freshly baked bread is, it is possible to get sick of it as an exchange student.

Moving on from history, let’s focus on the future. What should you be ordering in a German Bakery?

My favorite answer would be Quarkbällchen, they’re similar to donut holes but have light, airy, and moist texture. Quarkballchen, like the name suggests, are made of quark, a unique German dairy product, most comparable to a thick greek yogurt. These little delicacies are rolled in cinnamon sugar and typically sold in pre-portioned paper bags.

My next suggestion is almost too obvious to be stated but a traditional Butterbrezel ought to be on your list! The buttery salty mixture makes it impertinent to splurge on the extra butter charge! Pretzels are best enjoyed in Germany’s southern regions from where they originated.

On the theme of Pretzels, Puddingbrezeln are my next recommendation. They are the sweet cousin of the butterbrezel. The pretzel shape is made with a flaky buttery dough and in the circle formed by the pretzel shape sits a well of pudding and it’s all topped with a simple white sugar glaze. Absolute perfection!

I would also recommend a Laugencroissant (a simple pretzel croissant), brötchen mit Kurbis kern (bread rolls with pumpkin seeds), Wienerhörchen, a sweet circular almond horn often dipped in chocolate and with a marzipan like inside, and Schokocroissants.

Anyways, you might be asking, Elle, what are your anti recommendations? If I’m being honest, I would steer clear of the Amerikaners in German bakeries, I find them overly sweet and flavorless.

Quarkballchen

Butterbrezel

Puddingbrezel

Weiner Horchen

Nussecke

Hefeteig

[conclusion]

Sources:

European Flour Vs American Flour: Which One Reigns Supreme In The Kitchen? - Cookindocs

11 things you're sure to find in a German bakery – DW – 08/20/2015

German bread and bread culture (deutschland.de)

German Pizza - Flammkuchen - All Tastes German