Recipes for Authentic German Appetizers

Classic German ingredients naturally make easy finger food for casual entertaining, but they can also combine to make a wide variety of tasty prepared appetizers. From mini-onion tarts to ham-wrapped figs, savory cheese dips to chived potato pancakes, here’s a selection of appetizers to welcome your guests and whet their appetites.

Mini Onion Tarts (Kleine Zwiebelfladen)

Marinated Cheese (Handkäse mit Musik)

Stipp (Herring in Cream Cheese Sauce)

Panni Potato Pancake with Cheese and Chives

Savory Sauerkraut and Ham Rolls (Schinken-Sauerkrautrollen)

Bone Marrow on Toast (Knochenmark auf Toast)

Potato Pancakes with Three Toppings

Braised Pork with Horseradish Sauce

Camembert Spread

Pfaelzer Spundkaes

Potato Fritters with Cinnamon Sugar

Matjes Herring Salad in Yogurt Sauce (Hering in Jogurtsauce)

Schwaebische Maultaschen

Prosciutto Cream Cheese Triangles

Beef Roll-ups with Black Forest Ham and Gherkins

Farmers Ham with Rosehip Jam and Silver Onions

Chorizo and Mushroom Tapas on Whole Grain Bread

Ham and Sauerkraut Roll-Ups

Pumpkin Crostini (Crostini mit Kürbisrelish)

Holiday Strudel with Mustard Sauce

Broiled Oysters from the Isle of Sylt (Sylter Austern)

Swiss-German Cheese Raclette Party

Onion Cake (Zwiebelkuchen)

Pork and Sauerkraut Roll-Ups

Hand Cheese Marinated with Onions (Handkäse mit Musik)

Savory Black Forest Shortbread

Cherry Soup with Cream of Wheat Dumplings (Kirschsuppe mit Griessklösschen)

Party Sandwiches (Butterbrot-Variationen)

Cheese Hedgehog (Käse-Igel)

Sylt Island Shrimp on Toast (Krabben Toast)

Zesty Prosciutto-Sauerkaut Rolls

Spaetzle Gratinee with Red Cabbage, Cambozola Medallions and Curry Glaze

Party Bites

Shrimp Cocktail Büsum Island Style (Büsumer Krabben-Cocktail)

Sauerkraut Jalapeño Poppers with Bavarian Mustard Dip

Serrano Ham and Melon on Whole Grain Rye Bread

Westphalian Ham on Potato Pancakes with Parsley Sour Cream

Crispy Pasta with Sweet Sour Quince-Balsamic Dip

Crepes with Camembert and Chives (Pfannkuchen mit Camembert-Schnittlauch-Füllung)

Swiss-German Cheese Fondue (Deutsches Käsefondue)

Rollmops nach Berliner Art

Allondigas Meatballs and Pepper Cream Snacks

Fried Asparagus with Herb Cream (Gebackener Spargel mit Kräutercreme)

Baked Camembert with Red Currant Sauce

Simple Potato Pancakes (Reibekuchen)

O'batzten (Obazda)

Bavaria Blue Cheese Mousse with Gooseberry Chutney

Asparagus Tart with Spinach

Fried Brie in Poached Pears with Lingonberries

Quark and Garlic Dip (Schmand-Knoblauch Dip)

Asparagus with Ham Wraps and Vinaigrette