The history of Plätzchen originated from German’s medieval monasteries, who were able to afford the expensive oriental spices like cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and cardamom. In fact, a lot of sweets in Germany have these necessary ingredients in their recipes. There are all kinds of baked goods for the celebration of Christmas and I hope you all tried at least a few!

Here’s a list of some assortments of Plätzchen

Lebkuchen (Gingerbread) – These delights can always be found in Bavaria and in festivals. The Lebkuchen comes in a variety of forms and often with a sugar icing or chocolate glaze.

Zimtsterne (Cinnamon Stars) – A favorite of mine!These stars are made from egg whites and almonds, with a heavy hand of cinnamon and of course the sweet glaze on top. It’s the crisp, spicy cookie perfect for a little pick me up during the holiday.

Pfeffernüsse (Pepper Nuts) – Don’t be confused by the name, not all recipes for these cookies contain nuts! Traditionally, Pfeffernüsse is spiced with ground cloves, cinnamon and allspice then baked with honey.

Vanillekipferln (Vanilla Crescents) – Another favorite!These delicate crescent-shaped biscuits melt in your mouth and usually made from ground almonds or hazelnuts, and dusted with vanilla sugar on top.

Berliner Brot (Berlin bread) – Similar to a brownie these nutty treats blend the flavors of hazelnut, almond, cinnamon and sugar.