A recipe for Eierpunsch (German Egg Punch) inspired by our time at the Heidelberg Christmas Market! This warming drink has a blend of egg liqueur, white wine, orange juice, and whipped cream.
Disclaimer: Consume alcoholic beverages at your own risk and liability. This recipe is intended only for those over the age of 21 (in the United States). Please drink responsibly.
Last December, I spent a few days in Munich and Frankfurt am Main, Germany with one of my best friends who graduated with her master’s degree! We had such a wonderful time exploring the cities and checking out the seasonal Christmas markets.
Today, I will be covering our final day at the Heidelberg Christmas Market along with a recipe for Eierpunsch (German Egg Punch).
Check out the other markets during our trip:
- Kartoffelpuffer (German Potato Pancakes) and Munich Christmas Markets
- Feuerzangenbowle (German Fire Tongs Punch) and Nuremberg Christmas Market
- Gebrannte Mandeln (German Candied Almonds) and Frankfurt Christmas Market)
Heidelberg
Heidelberg is a picturesque city situated in Baden-Württemberg in southwestern Germany.
The city is filled with beautiful architecture, cobblestone streets, cafes, museums, Heidelberg Castle, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg (Germany’s oldest university- founded in 1386), and a charming Altstadt. Its location along the Neckar River also makes Heidelberg a popular stop for river cruises.
Our focus was on the Christmas markets with only a few hours, but I would love to visit again someday to spend more time in the city.
Getting to Heidelberg
We visited Heidelberg as a day trip from Frankfurt am Main. From Frankfurt (and the nearest major international airport), it is an easy 1 hour train ride to Heidelberg Hauptbahnhof with usually hourly nonstop train options (at the time of this post in 2025).
From Berlin, the trip is closer to 6 hours and a little over 3 hours from Munich.
Heidelberg is also 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) from Mannheim, 120 kilometers (75 miles) from Stuttgart, and 89 kilometers (55 miles) from both Baden-Baden and Kaiserslautern.
If using the trains, I highly recommend downloading the Deutsche Bahn app. The app is available in English and it is easy to search for additional trains along the route in case a train is late and/or a tight connection is missed.
If buying tickets separately, a Flexpreis ticket offers more flexibility. For this particular trip, we used a German Rail Pass. If traveling with a larger group, getting reserved seats is recommended, especially during busier times.
From Heidelberg Hauptbahnhof, the closest Christmas Market (Bismarckplatz) is about 1.5 kilometers (a little under a mile) northeast.
We ended up just walking so we could take in the area, but there is a HeidelbergCARD available for public transport and attractions if you are seeing more of the city for one to four days. It can be purchased in many local hotels, at the train station, or the tourist information office at Neckarmünzplatz.
Heidelberg Christmas Market
The Heidelberger Weihnachtsmarkt (Heidelberg Christmas Market) dates back to at least 1628 in the Marktplatz. Today, the stalls are arranged in squares across the Altstadt (Old City) for an intimate atmosphere surrounded by beautiful buildings and Schloss Heidelberg as a backdrop.
The exact dates for each market vary year to year. In general, opening day is usually during the last week of November. Most of the markets close by the 23rd or 24th of December (often with the last day only being a half day), but some may stretch to the end of the month or to the New Year.
For 2025, Heidelberg Christmas Market is currently scheduled for November 25th to December 22nd, 11am-9pm daily, with the ice rink open until January 11th and Bismarckplatz and Winterwäldchen (Kornmarkt) open until January 1st (closed December 24th).
For all the markets, I highly recommend visiting at first during the day shortly after opening to get a better look at the food and souvenir options before the often shoulder to shoulder people later in the evening and on weekends.
Most of the signs of the food and drink items are in German. I have included in this post names and descriptions of all the treats we enjoyed during our trip. For a more comprehensive list of general options, Happy to Wander has put together a guide of 30 typical German Christmas Market foods and drinks.
When getting drinks, they usually come in a ceramic (or more unique) mug. With this mug, there is a Pfand (deposit). The price for the Pfand is either listed on the drink menu or on its own separate sign nearby. Once you finish your drink, return it and get the deposit back.
The Pfand will typically be higher on specialty or more ornate mugs or come with a token that will also need to be returned as well. Some food items such as soup served in bowls may also have a Pfand.
Larger or more busy stands may have a specific Pfand return area, often with a sign for “Ruckgabe/Return” above.
If getting souvenirs, it is helpful to have a small tote bag on hand.
In Germany, the currency is the Euro. I used a mixture of cash and credit card. Most of the stands we visited (especially in the smaller or specialty themed markets) were cash only. Also, keep smaller 0.50-1 Euro cent coins on hand for public bathrooms, even in stores and some larger restaurants.
Bismarckplatz
Bismarckplatz is about 1.5 kilometers (a little under a mile) from the main train station and the gateway to the Altstadt.
This small market is home to a handful of stalls and a nice spot to grab a small bite/drink. It is also one of the locations with an extended opening to January 1st.
Anatomiegarten
Our first food stop (and one of the favorites) was at Anatomiegarten. This market was small, but had some amazing food and drink options.
I decided on a personal favorite, Currywurst, at Bauer’s Bauerngrill. These sliced sausages are paired with a spiced curry ketchup with even more curry powder dusted over the top. It was perfect alongside a Brötchen (flaky roll).
Tori went with a Frikadelle (meatball) in a Brötchen and loved it. I definitely need to make this at home someday and am missing the flavors all over again as I write this post.
I also enjoyed an Eierpunsch while at Anatomiegarten.
This drink inspired the recipe for today’s post with a blend of Eierlikör (egg liqueur), white wine, and orange juice. To finish, it is covered with whipped cream to keep the drink warm.
This area also had a spot with customizable mugs for a memorable souvenir.
Universitätsplatz
Universitätsplatz is about 650 meters (0.4 mile) east of Anatomiegarten.
This area was centered around the Heidelberger Weihnachtspyramide (Heidelberg Christmas Pyramid) with a Glühwein stand underneath.
There were also a variety of other small bites, sausages, fried dough, and drinks in the square along with an assortment of local souvenirs and crafts. Tori found a set of handmade earrings here.
While in this square, I was drawn to the Spritzkuchen– a piped round of dough that is fried and coated in a sweet glaze.
Marktplatz
The Marktplatz is 500 meters (1/3 mile) east of Universitätsplatz. This is the main square with the Heiliggeistkirche (Church of the Holy Spirit) dominating the view.
The square is also home to the Heidelberg Barrel (ein hölzernes Großes Fass mit sich drehendem Perkeo), which mimic the large barrel in the castle. It is about half the size with a capacity of 120,000 liters.
Kornmarkt
The stalls at the Kornmarkt are located just north of the Heidelberg Rathaus/Bergbahn. During the Christmas Market, this area is known as the Winterwäldchen (Little Winter Forest) with dozens of fir trees and illuminated tents lining the area.
We didn’t try one, but the Kornmarkt was even home to a Corn Dog stand during our visit with various styles (many were sold out).
While here, I enjoyed a Glühwein weiß (Wein vom Weingut Winter aus Heidelberg). This white mulled wine featured a local wine from Weingut Winter.
Tori picked a waffle topped with powdered sugar for a light treat.
Karlsplatz
The only market we didn’t make it to in Heidelberg was in Karlsplatz. This section is home to the ice skating rink, which also has extended hours into January.
Schloss Heidelberg
Along with the markets, we also visited Schloss Heidelberg (Heidelberg Castle) during our day trip. This red sandstone ruin rises above Heidelberg on the northern side of Königstuhl with sweeping views of the city and markets below.
From Kornmarkt, it was an easy walk just south about 66 meters (217 feet) to the Heidelberger Bergbahnen. This funicular connects the Altstadt to Schloss Heidelberg within a few minutes.
We only had time to visit the castle, but there are also options to take the funicular further to Molkenkur and finally up to the top of Königstuhl (The King’s Seat). This 567.9 meter high mountain is a part of the Odenwald mountain range that stretches from Hesse through parts of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria.
Another way to get to the castle is by walking up the hill roughly 850 meters (1/2 mile) and 315 steps. If you are feeling extra adventurous and want even more stairs, the Himmelsleiter (Ladder to Heaven) is a steep staircase with 1,200 steps connecting the castle all the way up to Königstuhl.
Once you reach the castle grounds, you will be surrounded by the historic Neckar red sandstone ruins with incredible views of the city, Christmas Markets, and Neckar Valley below.
The castle is packed with history all the way back to the early 1200s with first mentions in 1225. It has been destroyed, rebuilt, and renovated many times over the years creating a blend of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque elements alongside the ruins.
Schloss Heidelberg has even been struck by lightning not once, but three times- first in 1537 destroying much of the upper castle and twice in 1764, causing a devastating fire.
We bought a Schlossticket (Castle Ticket) at the funicular station which included the roundtrip train ride, entrance to the castle grounds, Barrel Building, and the Deutsches Apothekenmuseum.
Other areas of the castle are only accessible via guided tour in German or English.
Schloss Heidelberg is also home to the largest wine barrel in the world! Heidelberg Tun (Das Große Fass) is located in the Barrel Building (Fassbau).
Replacing previous smaller barrels, it was built in 1751 using 130 oak trees and currently has a capacity of 220,000 liters.
The timing of our visit was a little unfortunate and the barrel was covered in scaffolding. We were still able to walk up the staircase to the platform on top of the barrel which was once used as a dance floor.
There was even originally a pipeline connecting the barrel to the King’s Hall and Ladies’ Wing.
The castle currently is open daily (closed on December 25th and during the afternoon on December 24th and 31st). The palace garden is open to the public during daylight hours.
We spent about 2 hours here, but allow for another hour or so if you plan on taking a guided tour.
Deutsches Apothekenmuseum
An absolutely highlight of our time at the castle was the Deutsches Apothekenmuseum (German Pharmacy Museum). This unique museum focuses on the history of German apothecaries and pharmaceutics.
It is located in the Ottheinrich’s Wing and accessible via the courtyard of the castle. Admission is included with the castle ticket.
The incredibly fascinating exhibits are arranged as fully preserved, historic apothecaries from the 17th-19th centuries. Each section houses jars, cabinets, and shelves packed with artifacts, substances, and remedies used during that time period to heal a variety of ailments.
There is even a hands-on section for younger visitors.
Information is provided in German and English with audio guides available in German, English, French, Italian, and Japanese.
Plan on spending about 1/2-1 hour on a self-guided tour through the 10 rooms. There is also a very fun gift shop by the exit.
Eierpunsch (German Egg Punch)
Inspired by our visit to the Heidelberg Christmas Market, I wanted to recreate the Eierpunsch (German Egg Punch) at home!
This comforting, creamy drink has a blend of egg liqueur, white wine, orange juice, and whipped cream to finish for a fun alternative to Glühwein.
It also comes together in minutes. Simply heat Eierlikör, wine, orange juice, spices, and optionally rum on the stove until hot, but not boiling.
Serve the Eierpunsch immediately, while still hot, with the whipped cream topping, a dusting of ground cinnamon, and optionally a paper straw.
Notable Ingredients
The vanilla sugar (Vanillezucker) adds a hint of vanilla to the Eierpunsch. Small packets of vanilla sugar can be found in the European section of many larger supermarkets, but it is easy to make at home.
Scrape out the seeds of one vanilla bean and mix well with 2 cups (400 grams) granulated sugar. Store in an airtight container with the scraped out vanilla beans at room temperature until ready to use.
You can swap the vanilla sugar for a tablespoon (12 grams) of granulated sugar and either vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste. If using vanilla extract, whisk it in immediately after removing from heat. Another option is to add a halved vanilla bean to the liquid and allow it to infuse as the mixture heats up.
Eierlikör (egg liqueur) is a drink made of egg yolks, alcohol, and sugar. For this Eierpunsch, I used store-bought Advocaat.
For those in Northern Virginia, I was able to find it at the Virginia ABC store in Springfield. Search online or call the store before visiting, since they often only have one or two in stock.
After opening a bottle of store-bought egg liqueur, keep in the refrigerator for up to six months.
If unavailable, Eierlikör can also be made at home. So far, I have only made Eierlikör once while reviewing the cookbook, Süss. Dirndl Kitchen also has a recipe for homemade Eierlikör.
A Few Eierpunsch Tips
For this recipe, I used a footed glass mug or Irish coffee mug with an 8.5 ounce (251 milliliter) capacity.
Pour hot water into the heat-safe glass, then pour out before adding the Eierpunsch. This will remove any chill from the glass that could bring down the overall temperature of the drink.
When researching for this recipe, I came across many variations. Some recipes pair the Eierlikör simply with white wine. Others use additional ingredients such as orange juice (or even other fruit juice), rum, and flavorings. After trying a few different options, I went with my personal preference- equal parts white wine and orange juice with a splash of rum. Adjust more or less as desired.
For the wine, I generally use a semi-sweet or dry Riesling.
The rum is optional.
Heat the mixture just until hot (about 104-122˚F, 40-50˚C), but do not bring to a boil. If the Eierlikör gets too hot, it may curdle.
The whipped cream topping adds a nice contrast to the alcohol and creates a barrier from the cold air to insulate the egg punch.
I occasionally see the drink garnished with a star anise along with a cinnamon stick.
Eierpunsch (German Egg Punch) Recipe
Adapted from Kochen aus Liebe
Eierpunsch (German Egg Punch)
Ingredients
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) Eierlikör egg liqueur
- 3/4 cup (180 milliliters) semi-sweet or dry white wine
- 3/4 cup (180 milliliters) freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1-2 tablespoons (15-30 milliliters) rum optional
- 1 tablespoon (12 grams) vanilla sugar or 1 tablespoon (12 grams) granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch ground cinnamon plus more for dusting
- Whipped cream
- Cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- Place a medium saucepan over medium low heat.
- Add the Eierlikör, white wine, orange juice, rum, vanilla sugar, and cinnamon. Whisk to combine.
- Heat the mixture just until hot (about 104-122˚F, 40-50˚C), but do not bring to a boil. Adjust flavors to taste.
- Pour hot water into the heat-safe glass mugs or cups. Once the mug is warmed, pour the water back out. This will keep the drink hot longer.
- Pour the hot Eierpunsch into the glasses and top with the whipped cream.
- Dust with a little ground cinnamon and optionally serve with a cinnamon stick and paper straw.
Mimi Rippee
Oooooooh I’ll have to look for egg liqueur! Thanks! And great photos!
Tara
Thank you!