This is a brief collection of German appetizers you may have never heard of. All of them are either available in my recipe index already or will be coming soon! I will update this collection as I add more, so make sure to subscribe to my mailing list so you don’t miss any!

Four-Ingredient Pastry Snack Snails

These were the very first recipe I posted on this page! They only require four ingredients: puff pastry dough, cream cheese, shredded cheese, and bacon. They are incredibly easy to make and even easier to overeat—so make sure you have someone to share them with!

Käsefüße (Savory Cheese Cookies)

In German, Käsefüße is what we call “smelly feet,” but Käse also means cheese. This is a bit of a play on words since these cookies traditionally come in the shape of a foot. They can best be described as a savory cheese biscuit; my friends actually compared them to the Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits! The dough is easy to prepare, and they are delicious both warm and cold. Try them at your next social gathering!

Bätscher

Bätscher will likely be unknown even to most Germans, as they are a super-local snack from my Swabian home region. They are made with a yeast dough and topped with sour cream, chives, caraway seeds, bacon, or whatever else you like. When serving them as a starter, you can make them tiny for finger food, but they can also be made larger for a main meal. My sister thankfully provided me with a recipe that a friend of ours uses, and they are always a hit at buffets!

Birder’s Note: Many of these appetizers are sturdy enough to be packed in a container and brought along on a birding trip. There’s nothing better than a homemade Bätscher while waiting for a rare migrant to show up! 🥨🦉