Stollen

Since 1329, this unique "fruitcake" has been considered one of the most precious Christmas pastries in the world. The most famous kind of Stollen, which can be found at most local supermarkets, is called Dresdner Christstollen, originating from Dresden, Germany. This tasty version bursts with nuts and fruit and is sure to change your mind about the term "fruitcake."

Marzipan

Marzipan (the early European "March pane" or bread of March used to celebrate the Eastertide festivities) is governed by strict food laws ensuring a blend of two parts ground almonds to one part sugar. Marzipan bearing the name Edelmarzipan must have a minimum of 70% unadulterated marzipan. Also rose water is the only flavoring permitted — although many shapes are then dusted with flavored icing sugar. You can find marzipan in the form of loaves, balls, bars, animal shapes (especially the "good luck" pig!) and packaged in beautiful gift boxes.

Liqueur-Filled Chocolates

Another popular Christmas confection is the liqueur-filled chocolate. Not only are they delicious candies to be enjoyed alone, they also make great gifts and party nibbles. You can find brandy, whiskey, vodka, irish-cream, cognac and even eggnog filled pralines.

Lebkuchen

Honey-sweet, richly spiced ginger Lebkuchen can be traced back to the early days of the European spice trade when sugar was an expensive luxury and honey the common sweetener. Some Lebkuchen are coated with chocolate and sold in many shapes and sizes. Beautifully packaged, large, flat, sugar-glazed Lebkuchen are popular Christmas gifts. Other gingerbread specialties include Dominosteine (Chocolate-coated spiced Lebkuchen cakes with a jelly and marzipan filling), Zimtsterne (cinnamon-flavored hazelnut gingerbread stars) and Pfeffernüsse (sugar-glazed gingerbread cookies).

Spekulatius

One of the most popular Weihnachtsgebäck (Christmas cookies), Spekulatius are traditional spicy cookies molded into shapes, that are either made at home during the Advent period or purchased. They are available in various shapes and varieties such as butter, almond and chocolate coated.

Gingerbread House

Christmas baking includes a number of spicy cakes (Lebkuchen) and crisp cookies. These are often adorned with white and colored piped sugar decorations. Central to the festivities is the edible Hexenhaus or Gingerbread House, also called Hansel and Gretel's house after the well-known fairy tale. This is made from flat panels of honey and ginger cake fixed together with dabs of icing. Windows, doors, chimneys, even fences are fashioned from cakes. Children (of all ages!) decorate them with little cookies, nuts, candies and a dusting of confectioner's sugar for snow.

Advent Calendars

Like so many of our Christmas traditions in America, the tradition of counting down the days to Christmas using an advent calendar originates from Germany. Advent , which derives from the Latin words ad (meaning "towards") and vent (from the verb veno , "to come") refers to the coming of Christ. In Germany, Advent refers to the 24 days leading up to Christmas Day.

The first advent calendars date back to the 19th century, where, in Protestant areas of Germany, families counted down the days by marking chalk lines on the wall. The first commercial handcrafted advent calendars date back to 1851 and the first printed calendars (without windows) were produced in 1908 by Gerhard Lang and were named "Christmas-Calendar" or "Munich-Christmas-Calendar". Later Lang produced calendars with little doors to open, behind which children could find a little piece of candy, a picture or a bible verse. Traditionally German calendars have 24 doors to open beginning on December 1st. The last door is opened on Christmas Eve which is when the majority of Germans celebrate Christmas.

German advent calendars with delicious chocolate "surprises" behind each door are available in the United States and Canada in many supermarkets and card shops and can also be ordered online.

Chocolate Novelties

These chocolate novelties in the form of snowmen and Santa Claus figures make great stocking stuffers for old and young alike! These novelties are available in single packs or in multi gift packs.