German Bakeries
Tasty Cookie Crescents
<i>Vanillekipferl</i>, or vanilla crescents, are a favorite Christmas treat. They can often be found in bakeries during the Christmas season, though admittedly the best are homemade.
Skipping Tea Time for Coffee and Cake
Black Forest cake isn't just a German stereotype, it does really exist -- to the delight of many. Order up a piece between about three and four in the afternoon, and enjoy the German tradition of coffee and cake. Hmm, can you smell the coffee brewing?
The Anti-Atkins Diet
According to a study by the Association for Crop, Market and Nutrition Research, Germans consume an average of 86 kilograms (190 pounds) of bread per year. The Atkins diet never did take off here.
Christmas Stollen
Stollen, often made with dried or candied fruits, is a Christmas tradition. In December, it can be purchased at most of the Christmas markets, as well as in the bakeries.
Warm Pretzels and Cold Beer
Soft pretzels are a staple at any bakery. The same <i>Laugen</i> dough is also shaped into other forms to make pretzel-flavored rolls and baguettes. Many Germans insist the classic soft pretzel is best enjoyed warm with a tall glass of cold beer.
Taking Health Too Far?
This bakery in Bremen invented a new recipe for whole-wheat kale bread. Sound tasty? At the very least it's healthy.
Grab Your Own ... With the Tongs
A collection of self-serve discount bakers have sprung up across Germany over the past few years. Their prices are lower, but customer service can sometimes leave a little to be desired. They do, however, make it easier to choose among the breads and rolls if you're not familiar with the often vague -- sometimes unpronounceable -- names of German baked goods. These <i>Körnerbrötchen</i>, or whole-grain rolls, make a great breakfast with a bit of cheese or sausage.
Soul Food
You can't live on bread alone and the publishing company Lesefutter (Reading Fodder) took this to heart. To get more people reading, they decided to print stories by young authors on bread bags. The literary packaging can only be found in health food stores, not in ordinary supermarkets.
Even Better Than Grandma's Kitchen?
From mass production discount bakeries, to old-fashioned ones like this, there's hardly a street corner in Germany without a bakery. It's common to stop in daily for the freshest bread or a quick breakfast. Click ahead to see more of what you'll find inside a German <i> Bäckerei</i>.
Spoilt for Choice
Some 94 percent of Germans consumed bread on a daily basis last year, according to a industry survey. That makes about 77 million tastes to take into account, it's no wonder German bakers keep coming up with new choices.
What Makes the Morning Good
White rolls -- called <i>Brötchen</i> in most of Germany and <i>Semmeln</i> in the south -- are a common breakfast food. They are usually served with slices of cheese, cold cuts, jam, honey and Nutella (a hazelnut-chocolate spread).
Holy Sweets
When Pope Benedict XVI visited his home town of Marktl in Bavaria last fall, the local bakeries greeted him with specially created treats.