Oma's Bethmännchen Cookie

by: Gerhild Fulson  / Oma Gerhild shares German recipes rooted in family tradition.

Updated: August 10, 2026

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Bethmännchen -- traditional German cookies made with marzipan. Made just like Oma.

Bethmännchen cookies are a traditional Christmas specialty from Frankfurt, Germany. These little marzipan cookies are named after the well-known Bethmann banking family and have become a favorite during the Christmas season.

There’s a lovely story behind the three almond halves pressed into each cookie. According to tradition, bethmännchen originally had four almond halves, representing the four sons of Simon Moritz von Bethmann. After one of his sons died, the fourth almond was left off, giving the cookies the three-almond decoration they are known for today.

Whether every detail of the story is true or not, bethmännchen have remained closely connected with Frankfurt and its Christmas traditions for generations.

If you love marzipan, you'll love these bethmännchen, because marzipan is one of the main ingredients.

You can use store-bought marzipan or almond paste, which you can usually find in the baking section of larger grocery stores or at German delis. Or make your own!

Make Your own Marzipan ...

Making marzipan at home is much easier than you might think. This recipe for homemade marzipan is smooth, sweet, and full of almond flavor. It comes together in about 5 minutes with finely ground almonds, powdered sugar, almond extract, and just a few other simple ingredients. It can be used for candy, cookies, stollen, and other German treats.

My Mutti also made a thrifty version using mashed potatoes, almond extract, and powdered sugar. Almonds were expensive, so using potatoes helped keep the cost down.

It wasn’t true marzipan, so I wouldn’t use that version for baking these bethmännchen. But it worked well for decorating or simply enjoying as a sweet treat.

And whether homemade or store-bought, marzipan never seems to last very long in our house!

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Print Recipe

Oma's Bethmännchen Cookies

If you love marzipan, you’ll love these bethmännchen, a traditional German Christmas cookie made with marzipan and decorated with almond halves.

These cookies are associated with Frankfurt’s Bethmann family. According to tradition, they were once topped with four almond halves representing the family’s four sons, with three used after one son died.

Prep Time:

20 minutes

Bake Time:

15 minutes

Total Time:

35 minutes

Servings:

Makes about 3 dozen

Ingredients:

• ½ cup (63 grams) powdered sugar
• ¼ cup (33 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1 large egg, separated
• 8 ounces (227 grams) marzipan or almond paste, coarsely grated
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) milk
• about 3 ounces (85 grams) almonds, skinned and halved

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In a mixing bowl, blend the powdered sugar and flour together. Add the egg white and marzipan.
3. Using a dough hook or your hands, mix until you have a smooth dough.
4. Roll the dough into balls the size of walnuts, using wet hands to keep the dough from sticking. You may need to add an extra couple of tablespoons of flour so the dough isn’t too sticky.
5. Place the cookies on the cookie sheets with about 2 inches in between.
6. Mix the egg yolk and milk together. Brush the mixture on the cookies.
7. Press three almond halves into each cookie with the tips pointing upward.
8. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until lightly golden.
9. Cool cookies on the sheets on wire racks for 5 minutes, then transfer them to the racks to cool completely.

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Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

Updated: August 10, 2026

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Complete your set today - order now!

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Hi, I'm Oma Gerhild! As a food writer and cookbook author, I'm always looking to find ways to pass on my German heritage using local ingredients. Quick and easy. That's my goal. Wunderbar food. That's the result.