German Names for 50 Common Baking Terms: Ingredients, Tools, and Techniques Explained

If you love baking—or even just reading German recipes—you’ll notice that the language of baking has its own rhythm and vocabulary. From Mehl sieben (sifting flour) to Teig ruhen lassen (letting dough rest), German baking terminology reflects the country’s rich culinary tradition.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore 50 essential German baking words, grouped by topic: ingredients, doughs and pastries, spices and flavourings, fillings and toppings, utensils, and equipment. Each section includes English translations and practical examples so you can confidently read recipes or chat about baking in German.

🥣 Ingredients (Zutaten)

These are the words you’ll find at the top of any German recipe—ingredients are usually listed in grams rather than cups, and weight measurements are the norm in German-speaking countries.

German	English
das Mehl	flour
der Zucker	sugar
der Puderzucker	icing sugar
der braune Zucker	brown sugar
die Hefe	yeast
das Backpulver	baking powder
das Natron	baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)
die Speisestärke	cornflour / cornstarch
die Vanille	vanilla
der Vanillezucker	vanilla sugar
der Kakao	cocoa powder
die Schokolade	chocolate
die Butter	butter
die Margarine	margarine
die Sahne	cream
der Joghurt	yoghurt
die Milch	milk
das Ei	egg

Example sentences:

• Ich siebe das Mehl in eine Schüssel. – I sift the flour into a bowl.

• Wir brauchen zwei Eier und etwas Milch. – We need two eggs and a little milk.

• Der Kuchen enthält keine Hefe. – The cake doesn’t contain any yeast.

Cultural tip: In German recipes, Vanillezucker (vanilla sugar) often replaces liquid vanilla extract. You’ll find small sachets of it in every supermarket.

🧈 Nuts, Sweeteners & Flavourings

Many classic German cakes—think Nusstorte, Bienenstich or Mandelhörnchen—feature nuts, honey, and warming spices.

German	English
die Nuss	nut
die Haselnuss	hazelnut
die Mandel	almond
die Walnuss	walnut
der Zimt	cinnamon
die Muskatnuss	nutmeg
die Nelken	cloves
der Ingwer	ginger
die Zitrone	lemon
der Zitronenabrieb	lemon zest
der Honig	honey
der Ahornsirup	maple syrup

Example sentences:

• Ich gebe etwas Zimt in den Teig. – I add a bit of cinnamon to the batter.

• Die Torte wird mit gehackten Mandeln bestreut. – The cake is sprinkled with chopped almonds.

• Zitronenabrieb verleiht dem Kuchen ein frisches Aroma. – Lemon zest gives the cake a fresh aroma.

Grammar note: Compound nouns are common in German baking vocabulary—Zitronenabrieb literally means “lemon abrasion,” i.e. grated zest.

🍞 Doughs & Pastry Types (Teigarten)

German baking distinguishes between different kinds of dough, each with its own texture and purpose.

German	English
der Teig	dough / batter
der Rührteig	stirred cake batter
der Mürbeteig	shortcrust pastry
der Hefeteig	yeast dough
der Sauerteig	sourdough
der Blätterteig	puff pastry

Example sentences:

• Der Hefeteig muss eine Stunde gehen. – The yeast dough needs to rise for an hour.

• Für Kekse verwende ich meistens Mürbeteig. – I usually use shortcrust pastry for biscuits.

• Blätterteig ist sehr vielseitig – süß oder herzhaft! – Puff pastry is very versatile – sweet or savoury!

Language tip: Germans use Teig gehen lassen (“let the dough rise”) for yeast doughs, and Teig kneten (“knead the dough”) for bread or pastry doughs.

🍰 Fillings, Creams & Finishes (Füllungen und Glasuren)

Once your dough is ready, you’ll need the right vocabulary for fillings, icings, and glazes.

German	English
die Füllung	filling
die Glasur	glaze/icing
die Ganache	ganache
der Guss	icing/glaze (general term)
die Streusel	crumble topping
die Sahnehaube	whipped-cream topping

Example sentences:

• Die Füllung besteht aus Schokolade und Nüssen. – The filling consists of chocolate and nuts.

• Ich überziehe den Kuchen mit einer Zitronenglasur. – I coat the cake with a lemon glaze.

• Apfelkuchen mit Streuseln ist in Deutschland sehr beliebt. – Apple crumble cake is very popular in Germany.

Cultural note: The word Streusel is both singular and plural—Streuselkuchen (“crumb cake”) is a German classic you’ll find in every Bäckerei.

🧁 Baking Utensils (Backutensilien)

You’ll see these tools in most German kitchens, especially around Christmas when everyone bakes Plätzchen (biscuits).

German	English
der Teigschaber	spatula/scraper
der Schneebesen	whisk
der Ausstecher	cookie cutter
das Nudelholz	rolling pin
die Schüssel	bowl
der Messbecher	measuring jug/cup

Example sentences:

• Ich rühre den Teig mit dem Schneebesen. – I mix the batter with a whisk.

• Mit dem Ausstecher steche ich Herzen aus. – I cut out hearts with the cookie cutter.

• Das Nudelholz liegt in der Schublade. – The rolling pin is in the drawer.

Grammar note: Most baking tools are masculine (der Schneebesen, der Teigschaber), but Schüssel is feminine and Nudelholz is neuter.

🔥 Baking Equipment (Backformen und Zubehör)

Finally, these are the words you’ll find in the “equipment” section of a German recipe or kitchen guide.

German	English
die Springform	springform tin
die Kastenform	loaf tin
das Backblech	baking tray
das Backpapier	baking parchment
der Ofen	oven
die Umluft	fan-assisted oven setting

Example sentences:

• Ich lege das Backblech mit Backpapier aus. – I line the baking tray with parchment paper.

• Der Kuchen wird in einer Springform gebacken. – The cake is baked in a springform tin.

• Backen Sie den Teig 30 Minuten bei 180 °C Umluft. – Bake the dough for 30 minutes at 180 °C fan.

Cultural tip: German recipes usually specify Ober-/Unterhitze (top and bottom heat) or Umluft (fan oven). Check your oven settings before baking!

📚 Summary Table: 50 German Baking Terms at a Glance

#	German	English
1	das Mehl	flour
2	der Zucker	sugar
3	der Puderzucker	icing sugar
4	der braune Zucker	brown sugar
5	die Hefe	yeast
6	das Backpulver	baking powder
7	das Natron	baking soda
8	die Speisestärke	cornflour
9	die Vanille	vanilla
10	der Vanillezucker	vanilla sugar
11	der Kakao	cocoa powder
12	die Schokolade	chocolate
13	die Butter	butter
14	die Margarine	margarine
15	die Sahne	cream
16	der Joghurt	yoghurt
17	die Milch	milk
18	das Ei	egg
19	die Nuss	nut
20	die Haselnuss	hazelnut
21	die Mandel	almond
22	die Walnuss	walnut
23	der Zimt	cinnamon
24	die Muskatnuss	nutmeg
25	die Nelken	cloves
26	der Ingwer	ginger
27	die Zitrone	lemon
28	der Zitronenabrieb	lemon zest
29	der Honig	honey
30	der Ahornsirup	maple syrup
31	der Teig	dough/batter
32	der Rührteig	cake batter
33	der Mürbeteig	shortcrust pastry
34	der Hefeteig	yeast dough
35	der Sauerteig	sourdough
36	der Blätterteig	puff pastry
37	die Füllung	filling
38	die Glasur	glaze
39	die Ganache	ganache
40	die Streusel	crumble topping
41	der Teigschaber	spatula
42	der Schneebesen	whisk
43	der Ausstecher	cookie cutter
44	das Nudelholz	rolling pin
45	die Schüssel	bowl
46	die Springform	springform tin
47	die Kastenform	loaf tin
48	das Backblech	baking tray
49	das Backpapier	baking parchment
50	der Ofen	oven

🍪 Final Thoughts: How to Bake and Learn German

Baking in German is a delicious way to expand your vocabulary. Try following a simple German recipe—say, Apfelstrudel or Butterplätzchen—and read the steps aloud. You’ll reinforce the grammar of imperatives (Heizen Sie den Ofen vor!) while learning the rhythm of authentic German instructions.

And if you’d like structured support from expert native tutors, join Olesen Tuition, the top-rated German language school in London with over 25 years of teaching experience and hundreds of five-star reviews.

You can:

• Attend German classes in London or join online German lessons

• Fast-track your skills through intensive German courses

• Explore over 500 in-depth posts on grammar, word choice, and vocabulary on our German language blog

Whether you’re mixing Teig or mastering the Dativ, learning German step by step—like a perfect recipe—is all about practice, precision, and a little Liebe zum Detail (love of detail).

Viel Spaß beim Backen und Lernen!Have fun baking and learning!