They make the Streusel out of butter, flour and sugar. Then, they sprinkle the Streusel on top after glazing the dough with water so that they stick. Afterwards, the bread is put in the oven to bake. After cooling down, the Streuselbrötchen are ready to eat! There are many ways to enjoy Streuselbrötchen. Some eat it pure, and others add chocolate chips, jam, plums, extra butter or more.
More than just a pastry, Streuselbrötchen are linked to Aachen’s regional identity and culture, and they are a childhood staple for many of those who grew up here. Other types of desserts or pastries with Streusel exist in Germany, but only in Aachen will you find them baked into or on top of a bread roll like this.
Though you can find it in many bakeries in and near Aachen, such as where I work in Würselen, many people have likely never even heard of it in other German cities. That includes nearby cities like Cologne, which is only an hour away!
