after a year of living in Germany, there’s one thing i’m sure of.
After a whirlwind year in Germany and slowly settling into round two here, there is one thing I am certain of.
Germans love apples.
Germans are one of the largest importers of apples worldwide and it makes sense when you witness the popularity.
Por ejemplo:
- Plain apples (Äpfel)
- Apple sauce (Apfelmus) – beyond eating it plain, it is used as a dessert toping on German pancakes (Pfannkuchen)
- Apple juice (Apfelsaft) – yes, we like apple juice in the US just fine, but we do not buy it by the crate, nor is it on the menu at every restaurant in town
- Apple schnaps (Apfelschnaps)
- Apfelschorle – a mixture of apple juice and carbonated water , bottled up like it’s the next Coca-Cola
- Apple cake (Apfelkuchen)
In fact, I even got my former host mother this Apple Slinky contraption for Christmas. We then proceeded to make baked cinnamon apple rings every evening I had to babysit.
my German apple favorites:
Apfelkuchen
They come in all shapes, textures, densities, and sizes, but two things remain contant: apples + cinnamon and it makes for magical desserts (or breakfasts, whatever). I made one during my summer in Houston and it was a MEGA hit. There’s always an extra plus if it’s topped with strudel.
Berentzen (generic: Apfelkorn)
Berentzen is an apple liquor; it’s basically apple juice with a slightly higher alcohol content than a bottle of wine. It’s better on ice if you actually have access to any, which I usually do not, but delicious in all forms.
This is a knock off version of Berentzen. It sometimes accompanies at the park.
update Oct. 12, 2012:
Further evidence found on German roads of the profound love of apples in this nation.
Translated: Until one can send apples via email, we must unfortunately share the roads.
What’s your favorite apple treat?
Baha – We actually had an in-depth conversation about apples today at lunch – After eating apfelkuchen. And I must say, I too, am totally okay with this apple craze.
Apfelstrudel!!
) With vanilla ice-cream! Yummy! yes, I am German and I love apples!
I like Apfelschnaps und Apfelschorle. I will have to try Berentzen. I also like apple cakes and so on but I am far too lazy most times to bake, especially as my husband doesn’t tend to eat sweets. Perhaps as it gets colder though because it sure looks good.
As a German girl I obviously love apples and things made of apples
I’m not a huge fan of apfelkuchen of any kind but I do love Apfelpfannkuchen. So good! And I usually have a big glass of Apfelschorle when eating out. I really missed that while living in the US.
I never knew that about Germans! I would have tried to have had an apple-something when I was there. It’s funny though, because right when this post popped up, I had just started eating an apple.
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I love waffles with apfelmus, zimt und sahne. Lecker! I could eat one about now! I love cinnamen too. I am pretty excited by the sugar variety in Germany too.
I wonder why they love apples so much?
The French (southern French anyway) love melons! Like cantaloupes and honeydews. They love them!
I do love me some proscuitto + melon
Ooooh, I’ll have to try this Berentzen as that sounds delicious! I’m a big fan of any apfelkuchen, and apfelschorle as well. Actually any kind of schorle. It also came in handy when my 2-months pregnant friend visited last week, since she obviously couldn’t have any beer!
I need some of that apple liquor STAT. I had apply brandy from France that my parents brought back and I loved it, but I’d like something a little sweeter.
Seriously, it’s just like apple juice, except makes you feel extra good. The Berenzten can be found Stateside I’m pretty sure
I never knew apples were so big in Germany. They aren’t my favorite fruit, but I do love my Grandma’s homemade applesauce!
holy balls, yes. I’m quite certain that germans would live off of apples and Spargel if they could
I can go past a good old apple pie
on the juice front though, have you noticed how Europeans just love tomato juice?!
I haven’t noticed tomato juice specifically, but I have noticed they really love juice and tomatos both!
Everything you mentioned above sounds good to me!
I’m not really a fan of apple, so i’m not picky about apple-thing.
hmm…and Apfelstrudel!! ) With vanilla ice-cream that Katrin mentioned!
It’s actually hard for me to eat plain apples now that I realized I love baked ones so much!
I never realised the Germans wre THAT into apples! But I have to agree apple desserts are pretty damn tasty cos of all the cinnamon. Mmmmm!
My kids love apples. Applesauce, baked apples, apple juice, apple cobbler, the list goes on and on.
You are so right about everything! And God! How I love Apfelschorle… and unfortunately I wasn’t able to get it anywhere else except in Germany.
You can always make your own! But I know what you mean, even the apple juice just isn’t the same elsewhere.
I didn’t even know we Germans are that crazy about apples (or maybe I just didn’t realize that other nations aren’t *g*) but well, we Germans are a crazy people! Just made an apple cake for my colleagues today =) Personally, I’m not that mad about apples…
It’s really great to see your point of view! =)
I would love to get your apple cake recipe, as I am obsessed with all of them!
I love me some Apfeltasche. They’re turnovers, with warm gooey apple inside of fresh pastry. Much better than cake, imho. Just lately, the bakery I stop in before work has only had Kirschtasche, which is also good but it gets old after a while.
One of the bakery carts in the Frankfurt am Main HBF makes the best Apfeltasche I’ve ever had, by the way, but I can’t remember which one I bought it from. Grrr!
oh yeah! those things are awesome!
HA!! I never really paid close attention to their love of apples although, now that you’ve mentioned it, it seems so obvious! I love apfel strudel and the apfel Berliner. My husband has always been a lover of any desert with apple…apple turnovers are a fav. I will miss the bakeries here. I have to say, their pastries LOOK very sweet but are not nearly as sweet as American pastries….they are best with coffee
oo haven’t tried an Apfel Berliner yet! Will have to. But ya I’m pretty obsessed with any sort of apple dessert too