ALL THINGS GERMAN

AFTER A YEAR IN GERMANY, THERE'S ONLY ONE THING I'M SURE OF...

By Unknown - 4:43 PM

After a whirlwind year in Germany and slowly settling into round two here, there is exactly only 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.

Zum Beispiel:

- 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 host mother this Apple Slinky contraption for Christmas. We then proceeded to make baked cinnamon apple rings every evening I babysat the kids.


And you know what, I totally get the apple obsession now. I think it's mainly because any dessert involving apples uses cinnamon and I freaking love cinnamon (but that's a whole other story).

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.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="448"] This is a knock off version of Berentzen. It sometimes accompanies at the park.[/caption]

Update 12 October 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?

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27 comments

  1. MaggieSeptember 5, 2012 at 5:14 PM

    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.

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  2. KatrinSeptember 5, 2012 at 6:25 PM

    Apfelstrudel!! :)) With vanilla ice-cream! Yummy! yes, I am German and I love apples!

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  3. amandapoverseasSeptember 5, 2012 at 9:51 PM

    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.

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  4. KristinaSeptember 5, 2012 at 11:46 PM

    As a German girl I obviously love apples and things made of apples :D 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.

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  5. MorganSeptember 6, 2012 at 12:41 AM

    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.
    quitetheblog.com

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  6. RosieSeptember 6, 2012 at 9:19 AM

    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.

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  7. Sara LouiseSeptember 6, 2012 at 10:26 AM

    I wonder why they love apples so much?
    The French (southern French anyway) love melons! Like cantaloupes and honeydews. They love them!

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  8. HeatherSeptember 6, 2012 at 12:31 PM

    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!

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  9. Sydney Kramer (@CrepesofWrath)September 6, 2012 at 7:28 PM

    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.

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  10. RachelSeptember 7, 2012 at 2:46 AM

    I never knew apples were so big in Germany. They aren't my favorite fruit, but I do love my Grandma's homemade applesauce!

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  11. Alyx Garner (@adodds)September 7, 2012 at 6:30 AM

    holy balls, yes. I'm quite certain that germans would live off of apples and Spargel if they could

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  12. BarbaraSeptember 7, 2012 at 7:57 PM

    I can go past a good old apple pie :) on the juice front though, have you noticed how Europeans just love tomato juice?!

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  13. NikenSeptember 7, 2012 at 8:39 PM

    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!

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  14. moosenooseSeptember 7, 2012 at 11:15 PM

    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!

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  15. DebSeptember 9, 2012 at 4:14 AM

    My kids love apples. Applesauce, baked apples, apple juice, apple cobbler, the list goes on and on. :)

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  16. DorotheaSeptember 9, 2012 at 12:26 PM

    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.

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  17. AnjaSeptember 10, 2012 at 10:36 PM

    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! =)

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  18. ifs ands & buttsSeptember 11, 2012 at 7:30 PM

    You can always make your own! But I know what you mean, even the apple juice just isn't the same elsewhere.

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  19. ifs ands & buttsSeptember 11, 2012 at 7:31 PM

    I would love to get your apple cake recipe, as I am obsessed with all of them!

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  20. ifs ands & buttsSeptember 11, 2012 at 7:34 PM

    It's actually hard for me to eat plain apples now that I realized I love baked ones so much!

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  21. ifs ands & buttsSeptember 11, 2012 at 7:40 PM

    I haven't noticed tomato juice specifically, but I have noticed they really love juice and tomatos both!

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  22. ifs ands & buttsSeptember 11, 2012 at 9:41 PM

    Seriously, it's just like apple juice, except makes you feel extra good. The Berenzten can be found Stateside I'm pretty sure

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  23. ifs ands & buttsSeptember 11, 2012 at 9:43 PM

    I do love me some proscuitto + melon

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  24. StevenSeptember 18, 2012 at 11:33 AM

    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!

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  25. ifs ands & buttsSeptember 18, 2012 at 2:06 PM

    oh yeah! those things are awesome!

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  26. LizNovember 16, 2012 at 9:21 AM

    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 :D

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  27. ifs ands & buttsNovember 16, 2012 at 4:34 PM

    oo haven't tried an Apfel Berliner yet! Will have to. But ya I'm pretty obsessed with any sort of apple dessert too

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