During the Christmas season, sweet temptations like sugar-coated almonds and Stollen bread are more dangerously tantalizing than they look.
Image: Imago/JuNiArt
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5 German Christmas treats that are more sinful than you probably thought
During the Christmas season, sweet temptations like sugar-coated almonds and Stollen bread are more dangerously tantalizing than they look.
Image: Imago/JuNiArt
Mulled wine
Every year, Germans drink about 40 million liters of this spiced beverage. Not only does the tasty mixture of red wine, sugar and spices combine to give drinkers a buzz, it also helps to put on the pounds. Each glass contains about 210 calories. Pouring in a shot of schnapps adds an extra 50.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/K.-J. Hildenbrand
Dresden Stollen bread
It may look harmless, but it’s actually quite dangerous for calorie-counters. This Christmas bread has more than its fair share of butter, so eat with caution and be prepared to gobble up 400 calories with every delicious piece. This is probably why most people don’t eat more than two pieces.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Burgi
Nuremberg gingerbread
Germans love this Christmas treat almost more than the holiday itself. For over 500 years, gingerbread from Nuremberg has been made of flour, sugar, butter, honey and spices for a total of 420 calories per 100 grams. The spices are said to have a soothing effect on the stomach, so in some regions, it's called “stomach bread.”
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Warnecke
Roasted almonds
When it comes to sweets sold at Christmas markets, these little ones are an absolute classic. They're not only bad for your teeth though, but also tough on your figure. Caramelized with pure sugar in a large kettle, the almonds chalk up 500 calories per 100 grams.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/D. Karmann
Chocolate Santas
Christmas just wouldn’t be possible without them. For around 200 years, Germans have delighted in eating chocolates in the shape of jolly old St. Nick. Each year, 140 million of these Christmas figures are produced and over one-third of them exported. The fattening potential of these seemingly harmless chocolate men is off the charts: 536 calories per 100 grams.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/P. Kneffel
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Stollen bread is one of the most typical German Christmas goodies. Made of heavy yeast dough, it's a staple on German coffee tables come the holidays. This tasty treat is particularly revered in Dresden, where it's lovingly referred to as "streizel" or "braided bun." It's well-known for its buttery flavor and high calorie count.
When it was first baked in the 1400s, Stollen was a no-frills good made from little more than water, yeast and flour, just as church wished it to be. The wholesome loaf became a calorie bomb in 1491, when as legend has it, the people of Saxony received permission from the Vatican to add butter to the recipe. Famously, the Pope's agreement came in the form of the so-called "butter letter" sent to Dresden.
Since then, bakeries in Saxony's capital city have not held back. Nearly one-third of the cake consists of butter, which gives it the delicious moist quality it is known for. To top it off, sweet raisins, almonds and a heaping layer of powdered sugar are added to the mix. Thus, a once-austere baked good completed its transformation into an opulent delicacy.
Whoever decides to indulge in eating Stollen bread can expect to consume around 400 calories per piece. That's almost double the calorie count of a Big Mac. One would need to walk for at least 30 minutes to burn off the calories.
But enjoying this famous Christmas delicacy from Dresden is absolutely worth it. You can always wait until next year to count the calories.
