One of Germany’s most popular and beloved foods, here is a fool-proof and authentic German Spaetzle recipe for making the BEST homemade Spaetzle! Perfect texture and perfect flavor, these are just like you know and love them from the Swabia region of Southern Germany!
One of the most beloved foods in Germany that tourists go home talking about is Spaetzle, the famous German egg noodles from the Baden-Württemberg region of southwest Germany. This area is also known as Schwabenland, or Swabia. I grew up in Stuttgart, the capital of Baden-Württemberg, watching my Mom and Oma make spaetzle – I learned from the best!
Stuttgart is Germany’s 6th largest city with a population of over 600,000. It’s a bustling city of industry as well as one of great beauty and impressive history. Stuttgart is the proud home of Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Bosch, and the first VW Beetle prototype. Stuttgart is also one of Germany’s largest wine-producing cities and their wine-making dates back to 1108 A.D. when a Catholic monastery started making it. Stuttgart is also home to some of the greatest philosophers and literary giants, is home to several large universities, and of course the home of VfB Stuttgart, one of Germany’s great soccer teams. Stuttgart also has 3 beautiful castles.
Baden-Württemberg is home to the famous Black Forest and its cuckoo clocks, the Swabian Alb, numerous rivers, lakes, and inspiring castles. It’s capital is Stuttgart, the proud home of Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Bosch, the first VW Beetle prototype, several universities and famous philosophers and literary giants, the VfB soccer team, a famous Christmas market, and 3 beautiful castles.
Other famous cities in Baden-Württemberg include Heidelberg, Baden-Baden, Tübingen, Ulm, Karlsruhe, and Mannheim. There’s a limitless list of things to see and do is limitless. Needless to say, there was never a dull moment growing up in Baden-Württemberg and I never took for granted the beauty of the surroundings and the richness of the culture.
Let’s talk Swabian FOOD! Swabia is home to some of Germany’s best food – many, including myself, will argue it’s home to the best food in all of Germany. And that’s saying a lot because every region of Germany has some amazing food. Swabia is known for its soups, sauces, meats, wursts, and salads, to name a few. It’s also home to some unique varieties of pasta including of course Spätzle, Schupfnudeln and Maultaschen, a unique kind of Swabian ravioli, is another popular and beloved dish. Get our recipe for Maultaschen!
Today we’re featuring Spätzle, a Swabian specialty that is also enjoyed in Austria and Switzerland. Spatzle is a special type of egg noodle that is enjoyed with sauces and gravies as well as incorporated into a variety of different dishes. One example is Käsespätzle (a cheese spatzle casserole with crispy fried onions). Get our recipe for Kasespatzle!
Where did the name “Spätzle” originate? It comes from the German word Spatzen, meaning “little sparrows”, because that’s what they were thought to resemble when they were traditionally made by hand.
Without further ado, let’s make some Spätzle!
How to Make Authentic German Spaetzle
This spatzle recipe uses a stand mixer to knead/mix the dough. This is actually the first time I’ve made it that way. I’ve always done it by hand (you “knead” it by vigorously whipping it in a bowl with a spoon – over and over and over for around 20 minutes. It’s a lot of work!) I decided to to try it with a stand mixer instead and it turned every bit as good – and it sure saves a lot of muscle strain!
Let’s get started!
Add the flour and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Stir to combine.
Crack four eggs into a bowl and whisk to combine.
Make a well in the center of the flour and add the eggs.
Add the milk or water and with the dough hook o the stand mixer attached, knead/mix the dough on the “2” setting for 16-20 minutes. Add more flour if the mixture is too runny, or more milk if it is too stiff.
How Do I Know When the Spaetzle Batter Is Ready?
The batter is done when “bubbles” begin to form. After 15 minutes or less of beating, use a wooden spoon and scoop and pull to stretch the batter; if bubbly holes appear, the dough is done. If not, continue “kneading” with the mixer for another minute or two, repeating the “test” process. See the bubble hole below?
When those bubbly holes start appearing you know your batter is done.
What Is the Best Spaetzle Maker?
Now that the batter is read it’s time to make the Spätzle.
Traditionally, Spätzle was made by hand using a Spätzlebrett, or Spaetzle board. You would rub a slab of dough out onto a wetted board and use a pastry cutter or long sharp knife to quickly cut off strands of the dough into simmering water. Swabian women of previous generations were highly skilled at this and could do it so fast it would make you dizzy to watch. Nowadays most Germans use a Spätzle maker (and even more just buy it ready made at the store. It’s the “convenience generation”).
As I already mentioned, there are a few different kinds of Spätzle makers out there and you can find them easily online.
Below left is my Spaetzle maker that I bought in Germany and it’s awesome. This kind is pricey but it will last a lifetime. It’s called the Original Kull Spätzle Maker and is made in Germany. It’s built like a tank and will become a family heirloom you can pass down for generations. Another brand that is much cheaper and is also made in Germany is this Westmark Spätzle Maker. These Spätzle presses can also be used as potato ricers.
Below right is another option, the Küchenprofi Spätzle Lid & Scraper. I’ve used this one as well with good results and it’s much cheaper. It produces a shorter, stubbier spaetzle noodle. Alternatively you can also use a metal steamer because it’s similarly constructed with large holes. You place some of the dough in the steamer over the simmering water and scrape the dough through the holes.
There’s also the Küchenprofi Spätzle Plane with Pusher, which is my least favorite as it can be a little clumsy, messy, and more difficult to work with.
My preference is the first Spaetzle maker I linked to and what we’re using in the pictures below. Place the Spaetzle maker over a pot of lightly salted simmering water and scoop some dough into it.
Press the Spätzle maker down to squeeze the Spätzle noodles out into the simmering water. Simmer the Spätzle for about 2-3 minutes or until they float to the top.
Using a slotted spoon, transfer the Spätzle to a colander and then immediately put them in a bowl of very cold water. This helps them firm up to the desired consistency.
Drain the Spätzle again and toss with a little oil or melted butter to keep them from sticking.
Spätzle will keep in the fridge for at least a couple of days and then heated to serve. Melt some butter in a pan and toss the Spaetzle in it to warm through.
Enjoy!
Can Spaetzle Be Made Ahead of Time?
Yes, it can be stored in the fridge for at least a couple of days and then reheated. Melt some butter in a large skillet and toss the Spätzle in it to heat through.
What Do I Serve With Spaetzle?
You can serve Spaetzle as you would any type of pasta. They’re traditionally eaten with a sauce or gravy or added to soups.
Here are just a few ideas:
Serve Spaetzle with German Jagerschnitzel.
Serve it with our authentic German Sauerbraten.
Use the Spaetzle to make another popular Swabian dish (a personal favorite), Kasespatzle.
Whichever way you decide to eat your homemade Spaetzle, we are confident you’re going to love them!
Guten Appetit!
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Authentic German Spaetzle
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (you can also use whole wheat flour)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup milk or water + more as needed (milk produces a richer Spaetzle) (**add more flour if the dough is too runny, add more milk or water if it's too stiff)
- butter for serving
Instructions
- Add the flour and salt to the bowl of a stand mixer. Stir to combine. Crack the eggs into a small bowl and whisk them. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour the eggs in it. Add the milk (start with using slightly less and add more as needed). Attach a dough hook to the stand mixer and "knead" the dough for 16-20 minutes, or until bubbles appear (see pictured instructions for details). After 15 minutes or less of beating, use a wooden spoon to scoop and pull the dough. If bubbles/holes appear, the dough is done.
- Bring at least 2 quarts of lightly salted water to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Using a Spätzle maker of your choice (I use and prefer the Spätzle press), press the noodles into the simmering water and cook for about 2-3 minutes, or until the noodles float to the top. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the noodles to a colander, and then dump the noodles in a large bowl of ice water. Drain the noodles again, toss with some melted butter and serve warm.
- Make Ahead: The Spaetzle can be stored in the fridge for at least a couple of days and then reheated. Melt some butter in a large skillet and toss the Spätzle in it to heat through.
D. Creciun says
My family heritage is a mix of Romanian, German, & Hungarian. My mother used to make the dough (minus the nutmeg) and then grate it onto plain brown paper laid out on the kitchen table. She used the largest holes on a box grater to do this, then left the grated “noodles” to dry out completely. Once dry, she stored them in a Tupperware container & added them to the broth when she was making a big pot of chicken soup. OMG …so, so delicious!
Noreena Falta says
Hi there. just wondering if she froze the batter in order to grate it? or did she let the ball dry out?? I cant see being able to grate a dough like this… Thanx, Nor…
Bernd Kretzschmar says
Brettles spaetzle sen bessar. I could provide a video wie mers macht mit am brett ond messere.
For north Americans there is another way to process the dow by a wooden board and a knife and its not that difficult to learn even so it looks intimidating.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
I won’t argue with that, Bernd. I love and prefer the irregular sizes and shapes. I just haven’t had the patience to master the method to the point of being able to do it very quickly :)
nora says
The translation of US measure to metric is off. E.g. 1/2 cup of milk/water becomes 300 mL although it should be ~125 mL. Might be good to fix… The teaspoons of salt and nutmeg conversion are off, too. Thanks for sharing though! Thinking of making this as a side for Christmas Eve dinner.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Nora, thanks for catching that software glitch. Spätzle is often what we have as our New Year’s dish served with traditional Swabian lentils and sausage :)
Anonymous says
SO has the glitsch been corrected or is the recipe still incorrect?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
It’s corrected.
Ursula Sandoval says
DIP A TEASPOON INTO THE BOILING WATER, AND SCOOP OUT THE DOUGH ABOUT 5 OR 6 TSP. PUT IN THE BOILING WATER AND COOK UNTIL THEY FLOAT. SERVE WITH A TOPPING OF BUTTER AND BREADCRUMBS, OR FRY THE LEFTOVERS IN BUTTER. A STAPLE IN OUR HOUSE. YUM
Jeff says
I have the Kuchenprofi slide and plane and did not find it difficult to use. The company is German but the tool is made in China. The quality is good.I previously tried a ricer but that was messy. I have found very good dry spaetzle at Aldi but it is not always available so out comes the spaetzle maker. I never knew it required so much kneading. I gave been getting by with a quick mix.
Cathy says
Such a classic dish… I’m so happy to now have this recipe!
Erin says
Get in my belly! This looks so good.
Jacque Hastert says
Love this simple and authentic spaetzle that can me made easily at home. German restaurants are hard to come by where we live. So I can’t wait to bring this into my kitchen
Sara Welch says
This dish looks like it came straight from a cookbook! Looks amazing!
Tisha says
I love how this is made! Great authentic German dish!
Beth says
I never knew how easy this would be to make at home! Love it!
RKöhler says
Are you sure it’s just 2 cups flour? It’s very runny, and other recipes call for 4 eggs to 400g flour; as written, this makes a soupy batter that wouldn’t hold a bubble. I let it go in the stand mixer for over 20 minutes, then added another cups of flour, then finally got the right texture. Also, it would be helpful to specify how fast you mean with “kneading”, since that implies something fairly slow– I think you mean “beat” at at least medium speed.
All in all, very frustrating.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Yes, it’s correct. There is no standard ratio for eggs to flour but the more eggs the more “chew” the Spätzle will have, something many people prefer. You can certainly use less and work with a stiffer batter if you prefer a “softer” Spätzle.
Rose says
This was an easy-peasy recipe for such WONDERFUL results. I must confess though: we needed to add more flour and never did see the “bubbles”. The Mushroom Gravy was resting on LOW. The Jaegerschnitzel were ‘swimming’ in the skillet. Bubbles or not, it was time to press the dough into the boiling water. I have a spaetzle plane with pusher and, yes, the dough was sticky but those little dumplings plopped into the water and were floating before we knew it!
I fell in love with German food when I lived there (1980-1986). My husband had never had it so believe me when I say that I was delighted EVERYTHING turned out well! I can’t take credit for the store-bought rotkohl side dish but it was tasty also!!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
I am positively thrilled you enjoyed all three recipes, Rose, thank you so much for the feedback! <3
Dolores Pap says
Bio German here- this is the best, tastiest recipe for home made Spaetzle, bar none, and because of family demand I have made it once a week since I found your recipe back in February.
I found the ‘Original Kull Spätzle Maker’, used, on ebay for a pittance, and I love it!! It is so much better than my previous Spaetzle maker, and is easily cleaned as well because your dough is soft and not too sticky. I don’t bother dropping the cooked Spaetzle into cold water, instead,as soon as they are done, I put them on a big platter/bowl and add a few spoons of melted butter. Last week, I added some pureed spinach and nutmeg to the dough- wonderful!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
That’s wonderful, Dolores, thanks so much! I’m so happy you were able to find that Kull Spätzle maker on eBay for a great price. I love it too, it’s my favorite Spätzle maker. Thanks again for the feedback! :)
Wolfgang Roesler says
Hi Kimberly,
the purpose of beating the dough for such a long time is to get a max of air into the dough. That´s what you want to see when you check for bubbles. Pressing the dough through a spaetzle maker will remove at least parts of the air again. The spaetzle will be more firm than those made by hand. The link below shows how making by hand works (including the commentary of the house wife in Schwabian Alb dialect. Just like home :-)). Not an easy task I admit.
htt ps://www. youtube.com/watch?v=-Y6Ga9hMm4Y
I like your recipes and exspecially the tips how to replace or home make ingredients I can hardly get in Canada or which are extremely expensive.
How I can recognize the dialect? I was born and grew up near Ulm.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks for the tips and for the compliment, Wolfgang, I appreciate it!
Adrienne McFayden says
I lost my mother’s cookbook and she was 100% Hungarian and whoa could she cook. I will modify this to the drops of dough in the water. I LOVE IT. The recipe for Chicken Paprikas is excellent as well.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
I’m so glad you enjoyed the chicken paprikash, Adrienne, thank you! I hope you enjoy this one as well – happy cooking! :)
david krivan says
hello, can the spatzle dough be made in advance and the spatzle itself made the next day?
Greg Hohnholt says
I have to agree with the commenters who thought that there was too much liquid for 10 oz. of flour; I used about 3 oz. of milk, and it was still a bit much. I added a bit of semolina flour to strengthen the dough with good results.
Since I am a bread and pastry baker, and don’t own a Spätzle maker, I thought it might work to spread the batter out on a chilled marble board, and then simply use a dough cutter to portion out noodle size cuts. The result was more like kugel, but with the addition of my garlic herb butter, still very tasty indeed.
Thanks for the recipe; this will pair nicely with German Goulash.