Oktoberfest gets all the glory for the beer, but I’m here to tell you the desserts deserve a standing ovation too. I’ve rounded up 10 traditional German sweets, like warm apple fritters and creamy Bavarian cream, that are pure magic. Even the most devoted beer lover will pause mid-sip for these.
1. Gebrannte Mandeln (German Candied Almonds)
Bars everywhere serve nuts for a reason: they’re just perfect with beer. So if you’re hunting for the ultimate Oktoberfest treat, these German candied almonds are it. You only need six ingredients and 25 minutes to whip up a batch of crunchy, sweet, totally yummy nuts.
2. Chocolate-Covered Fruit Skewers
If you’re the type who loses your mind over chocolate-covered strawberries, these fruit skewers are absolutely your dessert soulmate. They come together in almost no time at all. Just remember, they do need a little while to set and harden before you can serve them up.
3. Black Forest Cookies
Soft and chewy with a deep decadence, these cookies pack all the rich flavor of a black forest cake without any of
4. German Pancakes
German pancakes technically belong at breakfast, but they’re incredibly sweet, fluffy, and buttery, so they slide right into dessert territory. With just six ingredients and 30 minutes, you can pull off one giant pancake that looks nothing like the stacks you’re used to. Take one bite, though, and you honestly won’t care.
5. Strawberry Bavarian Cream
You only need four ingredients for this dreamy dessert: frozen strawberries, boiling water, strawberry gelatin, and whipped cream. It’s smooth, creamy, and so thick it’ll give you the most wonderful strawberry overload. If you want to get fancy, pile on extra whipped cream and fresh strawberries on top, it takes the whole thing to a whole new level of yum.
6. Apple Strudel
Don’t mix this up with apfelkrapfen, apfelstrudel is exactly what you think: classic apple strudel. It might not win any beauty contests, but what it lacks in looks, it more than makes up for in pure flavor.
The crust is thin, warm, and flaky, wrapping around a filling of spiced apples and raisins that’s sweet, spicy, and scrumptious. Each bite gives you that gooey sauce with tender chunks of apple, and it’s simply divine.
7. Black Forest Cake
This double-layer black forest cake is a little messier than the cookie version, but oh, is it every bit as decadent, and some would say even more delicious. Inside, you’ll find two layers of rich chocolate cake hugging a layer of sweet, tangy sugared cherries. Frost the whole thing with a light whipped cream frosting, then finish with a shower of chocolate sprinkles and some maraschino cherries on top.
8. Oktoberfest Dessert “Beer Mug”
After all that beer drinking, the only dessert that makes sense is one that looks just like a frosty mug of beer. These little shot glass cuties are actually sweetened Jell-O crowned with a yogurt whipped cream topping, so they’re totally alcohol-free. They look exactly like tiny frothy glasses of beer, and honestly, they’re almost too adorable to eat.
9. Bavarian Apple Fritters
Apfelkrapfen, or Bavarian apple fritters, are about as German as it gets. These are sweetened, deep-fried apple slices kissed with a dusting of cinnamon. They marry that irresistible doughnut-like fried flavor with the natural sweetness of fresh apples, creating a warm, subtly tart bite you won’t be able to stop eating.
10. Rote Grütze
Rote Grütze might look like a berry packed cocktail, but it’s really a beloved German dessert. You can use any berries you have on hand, plus sugar, your favorite red fruit juice, corn starch, and cold heavy cream. The result is thick, almost slushy, and completely mouthwatering.