German cuisine encompasses diverse regional traditions, with seafood-focused dishes in the north and meat-and-game specialties in the south, and iconic foods such as sausages, sauerkraut, pork knuckle, and dumplings.
The Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, or Black Forest Cherry Cake, is a famous German dessert made with layers of chocolate sponge cake, whipped cream, and cherries. It is traditionally flavored with Kirsch (cherry brandy) and decorated with chocolate shavings and whole cherries.
Fischbrötchen Cold Pickled Herring is a Northern German street snack featuring a crisp roll filled with Cold Pickled Herring, onions, and pickles for a refreshingly tangy bite.
German Apple Strudel, known in German as Apfelstrudel, is the famed Viennese pastry popular in Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic. It features a paper-thin, flaky dough rolled around a filling of tart apple slices spiced with cinnamon and sugar, often studded with raisins, then baked until golden and crisp.
Schweinshaxe, also known as German Pork Knuckle, is a traditional Bavarian roasted pork hock slow-cooked (or braised then roasted) to achieve crackling skin and tender, juicy meat. It’s a staple at Oktoberfest and German taverns, typically served with sauerkraut, red cabbage, or potato dumplings.