Hess’ German Bakery and Deli

One of the many things I’ve learned from my Weekly Volcano Spew Christmas cookie hunt is that it is typical for Americans to celebrate the holidays with German Christmas cookies. 

I visited Hess’ German Bakery & Deli in Lakewood.  Although they do not bake their own cookies, they do have by far the largest German packaged food inventory I’ve ever seen.  The very nice German lady went through every variety of Christmas cookie, and described them all to me in both strong German and silly American language.  I appreciated her patience and ability to “simplify” things for me.  My brain can only handle so much.  It’s only day eight, and all these cookies are making me stupid.

There were two cookies that I especially liked. (Out of the five packages I purchased, but we’ll get to that at a later time.) The Spekulatius is a very thin, almond flavored wafer cookie.  They are crisp and to the point.  No messin’ around with that icing BS most cookies have.  There’s no need for it on these guys. 

Oddly enough, the Grandessa were another Steph DeRosa fave.  It is a soft gingerbread cookie, with a funky white paper-like wafer on the bottom, then coated in dark chocolate.  It hits all of my taste buds at once, just like I like it. â€" Steph DeRosa

[Hess Bakery & Deli, 6108 Mt Tacoma Dr. S.W., Lakewood, 253.584.1451]

MORE COOKIES: See what's already in our cookies jar.