The Best German Candy Ranked Worst Best

Kraft 74/Shutterstock By Sophia Hart/Updated: Jan. 24, 2023 4:05 pm EST

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. All around the world, people enjoy candy, with or without reason to treat themselves to something sweet. In the U.S., that may take the shape of a Reese’s peanut butter cup or a Snickers chocolate bar. If you travel to another country, however, you’re likely to find not only extremely diverse and unique cultures but different candies and desserts as well. No matter where you go though, candy will be deliciously sweet with a fun spin that you may not have experienced before.

Germany offers an array of wonderful sweets and gummies that are found worldwide, though some candies haven’t made it to peak popularity on this side of the Atlantic. That doesn’t make them any less tasty though, and we reckon that some of these treats would be very popular in the States if they were more easily accessible. Due to the miracle of international shipping companies, we’re able to purchase and taste incredible delicacies from around the globe. This includes candies from countless countries, whether you purchase gift boxes, individual packs of chocolates, and everything in between. Germany has a lot of sweet treats to choose from, so we’ve compiled a list of some of the country’s best candies and ranked them from worst to best so that you can take your pick.

  1. Dicke Nüsse

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Dickmann is the candy company behind Dicke Nüsse and it also offers a variety of chocolate treats, including Super Dickmanns (chocolate-covered marshmallow candies). We’re going to zoom in on another product with a name that undoubtedly gets some laughs every time: Dicke Nüsse. Yes, we know how that sounds to the typical English speaker. However, the German name roughly translates to thick nuts (via Pons) — which we know sounds even worse, but bear with us here.

Dicke Nüsse consists of a sweet, creamy nutty filling encased inside a layer of hazelnut milk chocolate. The combination of the rich chocolate and earthy hazelnut flavor makes for a wonderful treat, somewhat like Nutella. Taste wise, there’s nothing bad about this German dessert, but there are a few small reasons it ranks so low. First of all, when you try to find the candy online, you’ll be met with a lot of internet memes of people laughing at the poor translation of both the brand and candy’s name from German to English (via Reddit). Due to all of these memes, the candy is a lot harder to actually find and purchase overseas.

  1. Odenwaelder Marzipan Mini Pigs

Odenwaelder

This next German sweet is a marzipan masterpiece — which can be a hit or miss depending on how sweet you like your candy. Odenwaelder is a German marzipan company that makes loads of sweet and adorable-looking treats. Some of the desserts are shaped like fruits, hearts, cats, and other animals. Arguably one of the more popular products the company sells, however, are its marzipan mini pigs. The pink pigs are decorated with blushing cheeks, floppy ears, and goofy smiles that are hard not to love. Apart from their cute looks, the pink candies are actually a German holiday tradition meant to bring you luck.

These candy pigs are incredibly sweet as they’re mostly made out of sugar and almond paste. If you’re used to chocolates or gummies with a little more flavor than just sugar, you may find the marzipan pigs to be overly sweet. And if you don’t like your dessert to have a face, their goofy smiles and silly eyes may cause you to feel a little guilty before taking a bite. On the other hand, we can certainly see why these would be popular, especially for younger kids. If you don’t like candies that are overwhelmingly sweet though, you might not enjoy these little pink pigs.

  1. Ritter Sport Knusperkeks

Ritter Sport

If you’ve been to a Baldacci’s, Whole Foods, or some other high-end grocery store, you may have noticed that in place of all the normal Snickers and Kit Kat candy bars you typically find at the checkout aisle, you are faced with an array of different chocolates and treats. Among them, you may come across Ritter Sport chocolates, and you’ll certainly want to keep an eye out for the butter biscuit bar flavor, aka Knusperkeks in German. The dessert is made with an extra buttery biscuit cracker and coated in an envelope of milk chocolate. 

The use of a rich buttery biscuit paired with velvety milk chocolate makes this treat feel more like a cookie than a candy bar. However, it’s still a really good dessert to savor. The biscuit is crisp and not overwhelmingly sweet, and the chocolate is just as delicious as any chocolate product you might find in a high-quality grocery store. Since this product is more similar to a cookie than candy, we can’t rank it at the top of our candy-centric list. Nonetheless, if you’re looking for a sweet and decadent chocolate treat, then Ritter Sport’s Knusperkeks is a great item to try out.

  1. Schulte Dominosteine

Schulte Feingebaeck

Next in our ranking, we have Schulte’s Dominosteine, aka chocolate dominoes. Schulte Feingebäck is a German company specializing in cookies and chocolates ever since its establishment in 1884. The domino candies are made out of layers of gingerbread, fruit jelly, and persipan (an ingredient similar to marzipan but made with peach or apricot pits). The layers are covered in a coat of milk or dark chocolate, which provides a rich flavor and velvety texture to the entire treat. These small chocolate cubes are admittedly closer to a cookie than candy, but that doesn’t make them any less deserving of a spot on this list.

The use of gingerbread in this candy makes for a warm, sweet, and spiced cookie base. Meanwhile, the fruit jelly and persipan filling give the Dominosteine an extra flavorful spin. With the chocolaty coating, this entire treat is a sweet, bite-sized delight, and we could see ourselves accidentally popping an entire pack of them in our mouths. Much like the Ritter Sport butter biscuit bar, the only reason this item ranks lower is that it’s more cookie-like if we’re being nitpicky. Other than that, there’s not really anything bad we can say about Schulte’s delicious Dominosteine.

  1. Krügerol Halsbonbons

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Some candies have more to them than just being a sugary bite to enjoy, including this entry. Krügerol’s Halsbonbons from East Germany aren’t as popular as some of the other items on this list, but they still merit a position after 150 years on the market. When you first hear the term bonbons, you may picture chocolate candy in your mind. Actually, bonbon roughly translates to a sweet or candy in German (via Collins Dictionary). This product is more like a throat lozenge that you would suck on when you have a cold. In fact, Richard Krüger founded a specialty shop in 1866, he began producing throat drops, aka Halsbonbons, according to his own recipe. 

These candies are made up of ingredients like mint, sage, mountain pine, thyme, and natural pear flavoring, according to My German Candy. These elements provide a refreshing, minty, yet lightly fruity flavor that is the perfect remedy for both a sore throat and if you want to have a little something sweet to suck on throughout the day. They can also be dipped into a hot drink and melted into herbal tea, which sounds ideal for a cold winter day. You can find both the original Halsbonbons and a sugar-free variation online, so if you’re a fan of fresh yet sweet-tasting hard candies, we highly recommend you try these out.

  1. Trolli Gummy Worms

Trolli

You might be familiar with Trolli candies like the brand’s gummy worms and its various soft chewy candies. The candy company was first founded by Willy Mederer in 1948 as Wilmed, and ever since then has produced confectionery delights for all to enjoy (via Trolli). The various products include an assortment of fruit-flavored gummies, such as one of the most popular options: the gummy worms or sour glow worms (named for the fact that the candy glows with color).

These long and colorful gummy worms are not only a classic for many, but they’re also a fruity treat for anyone who likes chewy candy. You can get Trolli sweets at almost any grocery store in the States, and they’re guaranteed to be coated in a layer of sugary and sour flavor. These candies get points for their nostalgic value, as well as for their pleasant tang from the outer coating. Overall, this German-based candy is delicious, whether you serve it as a fun ice cream topping or enjoy it as a stand-alone dessert.

  1. Riesen

Storck

There’s nothing like the pairing of chocolate and caramel, and it seems that wherever you go you can find this incredible flavor combination in some form. While that might be a Twix bar in the States, over in Germany it’s Riesen, which is as simple as chocolate-caramel candy gets. Riesen happens to be Germany’s first branded candy, and it consists of a chewy, chocolate caramel covered with a thick layer of dark chocolate. According to the company, the strong dark chocolate taste comes from a unique blend of Gavoa cocoa beans.

These rich chocolate caramel bites are brimming with an incredibly decadent flavor; the caramel adds sweetness and a chewy texture, while the chocolate gives the candy a bold depth. It definitely tastes like a cross between a caramel candy and a high-quality chocolate bar, and anyone who enjoys both would like Riesen as well. While chocolate and caramel isn’t a new candy combo, there’s no way to be disappointed when you taste Riesen’s chocolate caramels.

The Best German Candy Ranked Worst Best

Kraft 74/Shutterstock

By Sophia Hart/Updated: Jan. 24, 2023 4:05 pm EST

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. All around the world, people enjoy candy, with or without reason to treat themselves to something sweet. In the U.S., that may take the shape of a Reese’s peanut butter cup or a Snickers chocolate bar. If you travel to another country, however, you’re likely to find not only extremely diverse and unique cultures but different candies and desserts as well. No matter where you go though, candy will be deliciously sweet with a fun spin that you may not have experienced before.

Germany offers an array of wonderful sweets and gummies that are found worldwide, though some candies haven’t made it to peak popularity on this side of the Atlantic. That doesn’t make them any less tasty though, and we reckon that some of these treats would be very popular in the States if they were more easily accessible. Due to the miracle of international shipping companies, we’re able to purchase and taste incredible delicacies from around the globe. This includes candies from countless countries, whether you purchase gift boxes, individual packs of chocolates, and everything in between. Germany has a lot of sweet treats to choose from, so we’ve compiled a list of some of the country’s best candies and ranked them from worst to best so that you can take your pick.

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Germany offers an array of wonderful sweets and gummies that are found worldwide, though some candies haven’t made it to peak popularity on this side of the Atlantic. That doesn’t make them any less tasty though, and we reckon that some of these treats would be very popular in the States if they were more easily accessible. Due to the miracle of international shipping companies, we’re able to purchase and taste incredible delicacies from around the globe.

This includes candies from countless countries, whether you purchase gift boxes, individual packs of chocolates, and everything in between. Germany has a lot of sweet treats to choose from, so we’ve compiled a list of some of the country’s best candies and ranked them from worst to best so that you can take your pick.

12. Dicke Nüsse

Facebook

Dickmann is the candy company behind Dicke Nüsse and it also offers a variety of chocolate treats, including Super Dickmanns (chocolate-covered marshmallow candies). We’re going to zoom in on another product with a name that undoubtedly gets some laughs every time: Dicke Nüsse. Yes, we know how that sounds to the typical English speaker. However, the German name roughly translates to thick nuts (via Pons) — which we know sounds even worse, but bear with us here.

Dicke Nüsse consists of a sweet, creamy nutty filling encased inside a layer of hazelnut milk chocolate. The combination of the rich chocolate and earthy hazelnut flavor makes for a wonderful treat, somewhat like Nutella. Taste wise, there’s nothing bad about this German dessert, but there are a few small reasons it ranks so low. First of all, when you try to find the candy online, you’ll be met with a lot of internet memes of people laughing at the poor translation of both the brand and candy’s name from German to English (via Reddit). Due to all of these memes, the candy is a lot harder to actually find and purchase overseas.

Dicke Nüsse consists of a sweet, creamy nutty filling encased inside a layer of hazelnut milk chocolate. The combination of the rich chocolate and earthy hazelnut flavor makes for a wonderful treat, somewhat like Nutella. Taste wise, there’s nothing bad about this German dessert, but there are a few small reasons it ranks so low. First of all, when you try to find the candy online, you’ll be met with a lot of internet memes of people laughing at the poor translation of both the brand and candy’s name from German to English (via Reddit). Due to all of these memes, the candy is a lot harder to actually find and purchase overseas.

11. Odenwaelder Marzipan Mini Pigs

Odenwaelder

This next German sweet is a marzipan masterpiece — which can be a hit or miss depending on how sweet you like your candy. Odenwaelder is a German marzipan company that makes loads of sweet and adorable-looking treats. Some of the desserts are shaped like fruits, hearts, cats, and other animals. Arguably one of the more popular products the company sells, however, are its marzipan mini pigs. The pink pigs are decorated with blushing cheeks, floppy ears, and goofy smiles that are hard not to love. Apart from their cute looks, the pink candies are actually a German holiday tradition meant to bring you luck.

These candy pigs are incredibly sweet as they’re mostly made out of sugar and almond paste. If you’re used to chocolates or gummies with a little more flavor than just sugar, you may find the marzipan pigs to be overly sweet. And if you don’t like your dessert to have a face, their goofy smiles and silly eyes may cause you to feel a little guilty before taking a bite. On the other hand, we can certainly see why these would be popular, especially for younger kids. If you don’t like candies that are overwhelmingly sweet though, you might not enjoy these little pink pigs.

These candy pigs are incredibly sweet as they’re mostly made out of sugar and almond paste. If you’re used to chocolates or gummies with a little more flavor than just sugar, you may find the marzipan pigs to be overly sweet. And if you don’t like your dessert to have a face, their goofy smiles and silly eyes may cause you to feel a little guilty before taking a bite. On the other hand, we can certainly see why these would be popular, especially for younger kids. If you don’t like candies that are overwhelmingly sweet though, you might not enjoy these little pink pigs.

10. Ritter Sport Knusperkeks

Ritter Sport

If you’ve been to a Baldacci’s, Whole Foods, or some other high-end grocery store, you may have noticed that in place of all the normal Snickers and Kit Kat candy bars you typically find at the checkout aisle, you are faced with an array of different chocolates and treats. Among them, you may come across Ritter Sport chocolates, and you’ll certainly want to keep an eye out for the butter biscuit bar flavor, aka Knusperkeks in German. The dessert is made with an extra buttery biscuit cracker and coated in an envelope of milk chocolate. 

The use of a rich buttery biscuit paired with velvety milk chocolate makes this treat feel more like a cookie than a candy bar. However, it’s still a really good dessert to savor. The biscuit is crisp and not overwhelmingly sweet, and the chocolate is just as delicious as any chocolate product you might find in a high-quality grocery store. Since this product is more similar to a cookie than candy, we can’t rank it at the top of our candy-centric list. Nonetheless, if you’re looking for a sweet and decadent chocolate treat, then Ritter Sport’s Knusperkeks is a great item to try out.

The use of a rich buttery biscuit paired with velvety milk chocolate makes this treat feel more like a cookie than a candy bar. However, it’s still a really good dessert to savor. The biscuit is crisp and not overwhelmingly sweet, and the chocolate is just as delicious as any chocolate product you might find in a high-quality grocery store. Since this product is more similar to a cookie than candy, we can’t rank it at the top of our candy-centric list. Nonetheless, if you’re looking for a sweet and decadent chocolate treat, then Ritter Sport’s Knusperkeks is a great item to try out.

9. Schulte Dominosteine

Schulte Feingebaeck

Next in our ranking, we have Schulte’s Dominosteine, aka chocolate dominoes. Schulte Feingebäck is a German company specializing in cookies and chocolates ever since its establishment in 1884. The domino candies are made out of layers of gingerbread, fruit jelly, and persipan (an ingredient similar to marzipan but made with peach or apricot pits). The layers are covered in a coat of milk or dark chocolate, which provides a rich flavor and velvety texture to the entire treat. These small chocolate cubes are admittedly closer to a cookie than candy, but that doesn’t make them any less deserving of a spot on this list.

The use of gingerbread in this candy makes for a warm, sweet, and spiced cookie base. Meanwhile, the fruit jelly and persipan filling give the Dominosteine an extra flavorful spin. With the chocolaty coating, this entire treat is a sweet, bite-sized delight, and we could see ourselves accidentally popping an entire pack of them in our mouths. Much like the Ritter Sport butter biscuit bar, the only reason this item ranks lower is that it’s more cookie-like if we’re being nitpicky. Other than that, there’s not really anything bad we can say about Schulte’s delicious Dominosteine.

The use of gingerbread in this candy makes for a warm, sweet, and spiced cookie base. Meanwhile, the fruit jelly and persipan filling give the Dominosteine an extra flavorful spin. With the chocolaty coating, this entire treat is a sweet, bite-sized delight, and we could see ourselves accidentally popping an entire pack of them in our mouths. Much like the Ritter Sport butter biscuit bar, the only reason this item ranks lower is that it’s more cookie-like if we’re being nitpicky. Other than that, there’s not really anything bad we can say about Schulte’s delicious Dominosteine.

8. Hitschie’s Snap Chews

Hitschie’s

7. Krügerol Halsbonbons

Some candies have more to them than just being a sugary bite to enjoy, including this entry. Krügerol’s Halsbonbons from East Germany aren’t as popular as some of the other items on this list, but they still merit a position after 150 years on the market. When you first hear the term bonbons, you may picture chocolate candy in your mind. Actually, bonbon roughly translates to a sweet or candy in German (via Collins Dictionary). This product is more like a throat lozenge that you would suck on when you have a cold. In fact, Richard Krüger founded a specialty shop in 1866, he began producing throat drops, aka Halsbonbons, according to his own recipe. 

These candies are made up of ingredients like mint, sage, mountain pine, thyme, and natural pear flavoring, according to My German Candy. These elements provide a refreshing, minty, yet lightly fruity flavor that is the perfect remedy for both a sore throat and if you want to have a little something sweet to suck on throughout the day. They can also be dipped into a hot drink and melted into herbal tea, which sounds ideal for a cold winter day. You can find both the original Halsbonbons and a sugar-free variation online, so if you’re a fan of fresh yet sweet-tasting hard candies, we highly recommend you try these out.

These candies are made up of ingredients like mint, sage, mountain pine, thyme, and natural pear flavoring, according to My German Candy. These elements provide a refreshing, minty, yet lightly fruity flavor that is the perfect remedy for both a sore throat and if you want to have a little something sweet to suck on throughout the day. They can also be dipped into a hot drink and melted into herbal tea, which sounds ideal for a cold winter day. You can find both the original Halsbonbons and a sugar-free variation online, so if you’re a fan of fresh yet sweet-tasting hard candies, we highly recommend you try these out.

6. Trolli Gummy Worms

Trolli

You might be familiar with Trolli candies like the brand’s gummy worms and its various soft chewy candies. The candy company was first founded by Willy Mederer in 1948 as Wilmed, and ever since then has produced confectionery delights for all to enjoy (via Trolli). The various products include an assortment of fruit-flavored gummies, such as one of the most popular options: the gummy worms or sour glow worms (named for the fact that the candy glows with color).

These long and colorful gummy worms are not only a classic for many, but they’re also a fruity treat for anyone who likes chewy candy. You can get Trolli sweets at almost any grocery store in the States, and they’re guaranteed to be coated in a layer of sugary and sour flavor. These candies get points for their nostalgic value, as well as for their pleasant tang from the outer coating. Overall, this German-based candy is delicious, whether you serve it as a fun ice cream topping or enjoy it as a stand-alone dessert.

These long and colorful gummy worms are not only a classic for many, but they’re also a fruity treat for anyone who likes chewy candy. You can get Trolli sweets at almost any grocery store in the States, and they’re guaranteed to be coated in a layer of sugary and sour flavor. These candies get points for their nostalgic value, as well as for their pleasant tang from the outer coating. Overall, this German-based candy is delicious, whether you serve it as a fun ice cream topping or enjoy it as a stand-alone dessert.

5. Chocolate Cat Tongues

Sarotti

4. Haribo Gummy Bears

Lutsenko Oleksandr/Shutterstock

3. Riesen

Storck

There’s nothing like the pairing of chocolate and caramel, and it seems that wherever you go you can find this incredible flavor combination in some form. While that might be a Twix bar in the States, over in Germany it’s Riesen, which is as simple as chocolate-caramel candy gets. Riesen happens to be Germany’s first branded candy, and it consists of a chewy, chocolate caramel covered with a thick layer of dark chocolate. According to the company, the strong dark chocolate taste comes from a unique blend of Gavoa cocoa beans.

These rich chocolate caramel bites are brimming with an incredibly decadent flavor; the caramel adds sweetness and a chewy texture, while the chocolate gives the candy a bold depth. It definitely tastes like a cross between a caramel candy and a high-quality chocolate bar, and anyone who enjoys both would like Riesen as well. While chocolate and caramel isn’t a new candy combo, there’s no way to be disappointed when you taste Riesen’s chocolate caramels.

These rich chocolate caramel bites are brimming with an incredibly decadent flavor; the caramel adds sweetness and a chewy texture, while the chocolate gives the candy a bold depth. It definitely tastes like a cross between a caramel candy and a high-quality chocolate bar, and anyone who enjoys both would like Riesen as well. While chocolate and caramel isn’t a new candy combo, there’s no way to be disappointed when you taste Riesen’s chocolate caramels.

2. Toffifee Chocolates

4kclips/Shutterstock

1. Milka Chocolate Bar

Esther Mm/Shutterstock