The Top 15 Snack Foods You'll Find In Germany

What Americans think of when they hear the term "snack," they think of common staples such as chips, cakes, cookies, candy bars, and sodas. Americans also don't think of street carts and markets as a great source for snacks and quick bites. But when you're in Germany, snacks look a little bit different and come in a lot of different varieties.

In Germany, tourism isn't just confined to just fancy architecture and gardens. A lot of the great things in the country are the snack foods! While not all flavors you can find are all that different from American snacks, there are some that are different enough to make your head tilt to the side. Let's take a look at the top German snacks!

15. Peanut Puffs (Erdnussflips)

Know for a light, crunchy texture, these snacks are a puffed corn snack shaped like a peanut with a slight peanut flavor. They're a great on-the-go option!

14. Grilled Sausages (Wurst)

Sausage is definitely a staple in German cuisine. While these grilled sausages can be a main meal, a lot of people enjoy them as a quick, inexpensive snack. You can find various grilled sausages in food trucks and carts throughout the country. The most popular varieties include bratwurst, currywurst, bockwurst, and weisswurst.

13. Soft Pretzels (Brezeln)

German pretzels are one of the best snacks you can get on the go. Like Americans are accustomed to, these treats are typically topped with coarse salt, but they can also come in various sweet toppings or even stuffed with cheese and butter. Don't forget the side of mustard!

12. Savory Onion Cake (Zweibelkuchen)

These quiche-like treats are often consumed as a savory, filling snack. These treats are typically filled with onions, bacon, and cream in a pastry crust. There are even versions of Zweibelkuchen that are more like pizza than a savory pie.

11. Toffifee

Who doesn't want a chocolate-filled hazelnut topped with more chocolate? Germany loves this sweet treat that are crunchy, sticky, and sweet. Toffifee is a snack usually enjoyed at events or while watching sports at home.

10. Fried Potato Pancake (Kartoffelpuffer)

Similar to what you might think of a potato latke, these fried pancakes consist of grated potatoes, onions and egg. Similar to a latke, they are often served with sides of applesauce, sour cream, or an herbed cream spread. Traditionally, you will find these pancakes at Christmas markets, food trucks, or served as a restaurant side dish. The name also varies depending on which German region you are in.

9. Quark Balls (Quarkbällchen)

In Germany, Quark isn't just a tiny particle. The yogurt-like cheese (often translated to curd cheese) is considered to be a popular delicacy in the country, so of course they put it inside of a dough ball and fried it. This snack is usually reserved for fairs, festivals, and bakery specials so they are highly recommended if you're lucky enough to find one.

8. German Potato Salad (Kartoffelsalat)

Americans are very accustomed to potato salad in quite a few varieties - even traditional German potato salad. Made with boiled potatoes, onions, and a vinegar-mustard dressing, potato salad is enjoyed as a snack in Germany. It's also quite the staple at major events such as Oktoberfest.

7. Haribo Gummies

While Haribo gummies are a treat enjoyed worldwide, they originated in Germany. The iconic, chewy bears are known for fruity flavors around the world, but you can find some interesting flavors in Germany, such as fruit salad, cola, ginger lemon, marshmallow, and salty licorice.

6. Spaghetti Ice Cream (Spaghettieis)

Spaghetti ice cream is a very popular dessert that resembles a plate of traditional spaghetti with red sauce. The look is achieved by pressing vanilla ice cream though a machine to create spaghetti-like strands. It's then covered with whipped cream and strawberry sauce. If you're lucky, there is even white chocolate shaved on top to resemble parmesan cheese.

5. German Chocolate (Schokolade)

In the "land of chocolate," there are a variety of brands popular in Germany. From Milka to Ritter Sport to Knoppers, there is something for any kind of chocolate lover to find.

4. Cheesecake (Käsekuchen)

While very popular in both the United States and Germany, the cheesecake you'll find in Germany is a bit different. Going back to the subject of Quark cheese, these cakes are usually made with Quark instead of cream cheese. This gives the cakes a bit of a more sour flavor, but you get a hefty dollop of whipped cream to balance out the flavor.

3. Paprika Chips (Pfefferchip)

Paprika is easily one of the most popular potato chip flavors in Germany. The flavor gives consumers a zesty, smoky flavor with a great crunch. From what it sounds like, the closest comparison you'll probably find in the United States is barbecue flavor.

2. Candied Almonds (Gebrannte Mandeln)

While you can find tasty roasted nuts pretty much anywhere, candied almons are a German specialty. Often tossed in sugar and cinnamon, they are a common thing to find at Christmas markets.

1. Cucumber Salad (Gurkensalat)

Cucumber salads anywhere in the world are refreshing, and they give you a definite feel of Spring and Summer. With that said, German cucumber salad is on another level. Typically made with sour cream or vinegar and fresh dill, this salad pairs great with fish or meat. Then again, you can enjoy it on its own as a refreshing snack.