As many Germans are Catholic and go to midnight mass without eating meat before, the Christmas staple is instead fish in the form of salmon, herring and carp.
Salads & Sides
Potatoes form the bulk of both sides and salads in the form of German dumplings called kartoffelpuffer, which is a type of french fries and is served with meat, bread and vegetables.
German potato salad is also popular during Christmas time and often accompanies apple sausage and chestnut stuffing.These are especially popular if meat is being served. You will often find Kale, red cabbage or sauerkraut on the Christmas table.
Dessert
The special cookies made during Christmas are called Weihnachtsplatzchen and can be found in a variety of styles and are made using different recipes.
These cookies were first made in Franconian monasteries in the Middle Ages and Lebkuchen is a heart shaped cookie that is one of the most intricate of them all. Stollen is a popular fruitcake that you will find around Christmas. You will commonly find all German desserts during the festive season being spiced with ingredients such as orange, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves.
Kartoffelpuffer
A vegetarian-friendly treat, the kartoffelpuffer is a pan-fried pancake made with grated potatoes, flour, eggs and onions. This well-loved dish can be enjoyed as a sweet or savoury treat – you can satisfy your sugar cravings by dipping this is applesauce, or have it as a savoury delight by pairing it up with garlic sauce or meat.