Germany has a rich and varied culinary tradition around the festive season, dating back centuries and centuries. Its cookies, cakes and infamous Glühwein have long become well-loved beyond the countries borders.
German Christmas traditions have undoubtedly influenced the way all of us around the globe eat that particular time of the year. Especially in the lead up to Christmas, when it's all about sugar and candy.
This can be either made at home or purchased from one of the thousands of Christmas markets around Germany, big and small, which have long since been copied in many other countries.
A visit to any of these markets might be freezing, but your won't regret the experience. One of the largest and most famous is hosted in Nuremberg, where it has been held since the 17th century.
It's all about the variety
But what is it that makes the food so extraordinary? "I think it´s the variety", says Ruth Weinekötter, co-author of a recently German-English cookbook Lecker (Delicious).
"There are ten, twenty different types of cookies. There's the Gingerbread and all sorts of spices. I think...butter and sugar, you can't go wrong."
Below, listen to Ruth Weinekötter's full interview (in English) with SBS German:
Ruth was happy to share two recipes from the book, both perfected over a long time and both authentically traditional German.
Lebkuchen: the ultimate Christmas cookie which dates back to the Middle Ages
Christmas biscuits, which come in a large variety
Childishly simple
"I'm not that much of a cook," says Ruth.
She explains, "I'm more of a baker, but it´s not very hard to whip up a Gingerbread,"
She also highlights that it keeps for a while - so you can hang onto it throughout the Christmas season: "you can freeze it, you can keep it in the fridge for a while."
No question: the younger ones love making it too - not just the end results. "The kids love to role it out. And icing is always a lot of fun. It's also a good present to bring along...And it's feasible too if it's 40 degrees out to bring a Gingerbread along. It won't melt on you."
SBS Food also has a collection of delicious German Christmas recipes
Stollen - get the recipe here:
Dating back to the 15th century, the German fruit bread is said to resemble the baby Jesus in swaddling clothes.
Toffee Apples
Can be found at every market: Toffee apples, super delicious and easy to make.
Last but not least: Glühwein (Mulled Wine)
The cookbook "Lecker" can be purchased at Melbourne´s bilingual German School in North Fitzroy during business hours.
