German Zwieback

German Zwieback

twice baked biscuits

Recipe by
Reviewed by Arturs Arnicans
Prep Time: 10m
Cook Time: 3h 20m
Total Time: 3h 30m
Temp.: 350 °F
Servings: 10
Difficulty: Easy
4.9 (17 Reviews)
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Ingredients

Adjust servings:

Nutritional Information

280
calories
6.2g
fat
48.5g
carbohydrates
7g
protein
33mg
cholesterol
343mg
sodium
German Zwieback

Recipe Description

Make four dozen Zwieback sweetened toasts at home and enjoy them as a delightful addition to any snack or meal. Soft wheat bread enriched with egg, baked in the oven, then cut into slices and baked for the second time until golden and toasted. These are just like teething cookies we loved as kids, but so much better than those store-bought ones.  

Like most no-knead bread recipes, this is pretty simple to make and doesn’t require any fancy ingredients. To the mixing bowl, add flour, sugar, yeast, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, butter, egg, and milk. Mix the dough, then allow about two hours for the dough to rise. Then it’s time to divide the dough, shape into loaves, and let rise. Bake the loaves until deep golden brown and let cool completely. Next day, cut the bread into thick slices and bake in a cool oven (200 °F) for 1 hour. Then flip all the slices and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Return to the oven and bake for another hour. Once toasted, let cool completely on a wire rack and serve. 

To make the German Zwieback, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for German Zwieback

Recipe Features

Steps to make

  1. 1

    Make dough

    5 min
    Step 1 - German Zwieback

    In a mixing bowl, combine 4 cups all-purpose flour, 6 tablespoons granulated sugar, 2 ½ teaspoons instant yeast, 1 ¼ teaspoons salt, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ to ½ teaspoon nutmeg, 4 tablespoons softened butter, 1 large egg, and 1 cup lukewarm milk and mix to form a smooth, soft, tacky dough.

  2. 2

    Rise

    2h
    Step 2 - German Zwieback

    Cover the dough and let rise for about 2 hours.

  3. 3

    Divide dough

    2 min
    Step 3 - German Zwieback

    Once puffed, divide the dough in half. Each half should weigh about 16 ounces.

  4. 4

    Shape loaves

    3 min
    Step 4 - German Zwieback

    Shape each half into a 12-inch log and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

  5. 5

    Leave to rise

    90 min
    Step 5 - German Zwieback

    Cover the loaves, and let them rise for about 90 minutes.

  6. 6

    Preheat oven

    5 min

    Towards the end of the rising time, heat the oven to 350 °F.

  7. 7

    Bake

    20 min
    Step 7 - German Zwieback

    Bake the loaves for 22-24 minutes until deep golden brown and the temperature at the center is at least 190 °F.

  8. 8

    Cool

    Step 8 - German Zwieback

    Remove the loaves from the oven, and let cool on a wire cooling rack. Let the loaves rest, uncovered, at room temperature overnight.

  9. 9

    Preheat oven

    5 min

    Next day, preheat the oven to 200 °F.

  10. 10

    Slice loaves

    3 min
    Step 10 - German Zwieback

    Cut each loaf of bread into ½-inch slices. Lay the slices on two parchment-lined baking sheets.

  11. 11

    Bake

    2h
    Step 11 - German Zwieback

    Bake the slices for 1 hour. Remove the pans from the oven, and flip all the slices. For cinnamon toast, sprinkle about ¼ a teaspoon of cinnamon sugar evenly over the top of each toast. Return the baking sheets to the oven, and bake for another 1 hour, or until the toasts are crisp and dry.

  12. 12

    Cool

    Step 12 - German Zwieback

    Once toasted, remove from the oven and let cool completely on the wire rack.

  13. 13

    Serve

    Step 13 - German Zwieback

    Serve as a snack, and store well-wrapped or in a tightly sealed container at room temperature.

Give this delicious Zwieback recipe a try on a slow day at home! Every piece of toast is crisp and caramelized with just the right amount of cinnamon. Did you enjoy this recipe? Let us know in the comments below.

About the author

Nina Cole

Nina dreams of gender equality and for women all over the world to feel empowered and enjoy the same freedom she has. She’s a careful consumer, believing that by being more conscious about the way we live we can make the world a better place! Already a vegetarian, she uses animal products sparingly and tries to produce as little waste as possible. Most of her recipes are vegan as a result!

Recipe Reviews

Have you made this recipe? Share your experience and help other cooks!

★★★★★
★★★★★
4.9 out of 5 (17 reviews)
Jake Thompson
February 23, 2025
Verified

I made these Zwieback toasts with my kids last weekend. We loved the sweet, warm smell filling our home. They were simple to make, and my kids enjoyed helping cut the slices. So much better than store-bought ones.

Tina Reynolds
February 19, 2025
Verified

Superb!

Fernanda López
January 25, 2025
Verified

La Zwieback me recordó a las galletas que hacía mi abuela. Son super fáciles de hacer y siempre son un exito entre los niños, ¡les encantan!

Qman
October 25, 2024
Verified

Superb crunchiness added!

Ursula
July 25, 2024
Verified

OMG, these German Zwieback toasts are simply delicious! Made 'em last Sunday while hanging with the fam, and they were gone in a flash. So easy to whip up, and the smell while baking? Just fab! Way better than those store-bought ones. Totally bringing this recipe to the next family gathering! 😍

Wendy Harris
June 4, 2024
Verified

Super easy to make, kids loved it for breakfast.

Patricia
February 22, 2024
Verified

I made these Zwieback toasts for my kids last weekend. They loved the slight sweetness and crunchy texture. It reminded me of my childhood, and I felt grateful to share this recipe with my family. So simple, yet so much fun to make together.

Inès Martin
February 17, 2024
Verified

Totally awesome toasts! I made these Zwiebacks for my lil one's birthday party, and they were a hit! Simple, yet super tasty. Will def make again!

Zach
December 15, 2023
Verified

Delicious!

Lil\' Chef
September 9, 2023
Verified

OMG! This Zwieback recipe is a total game-changer! Made it with my kiddos, and we devoured them all in a day! So easy, and way better than store-bought! These remind me of my childhood snacks, but like, a million times tastier! So stoked! 🍞✨

Yolanda
August 28, 2023
Verified

Hice estos Zwieback para mis nietos y fue un gran éxito. Me recordó a mi niñez cuando mi abuela los hacía. La receta es facil y no necesita ingredientes especiales. Todos en casa han disfrutado cada bocado. Definitivamente una receta que guardaré en mi libro de recetas familiar.

Brooke
July 2, 2023
Verified

Tasty and delightful!

Tommy
June 23, 2023
Verified

I was really glad I tried the German Zwieback recipe. It brang back sweet memories of childhood snacks. The ingredients were simple and the steps easy. Now, my kids love them too, just like I did.

Wendy
February 7, 2023
Verified

OMG, these Zwieback toasts are to die for! Made them with my kiddos after school and we just couldn't stop munching. It's like reliving my childhood, but way more delish! So easy to whip up too. Best snack ever, feeling like a supermom right now! 😍

Zara
September 6, 2022
Verified

I made the German Zwieback for a family gathering and it was a huge hit. My kids love the crunchy texture and I love that it's simple to prepare. It reminded me of my own childhood snacking on toast with friends. Definitely making these again.

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