What Is Pumpernickel bread and How Can I Use It?

Wondering what to do with pumpernickel bread? This guide covers how to pick it, cook it, store it, and swap it — with 21 recipes to put it to work.

Recipes using pumpernickel bread

There are 21 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Smoked Salmon-And-Chive Sandwiches

Elegant smoked salmon tea sandwiches with lemon-chive cream cheese on pumpernickel. Sophisticated finger sandwiches ready in 20 minutes, perfect for brunch or afternoon tea.

Horseradish Beef Sandwiches

Roast beef sandwich on pumpernickel with creamy horseradish sauce, pickled beets, lettuce, and mayo. A tangy, savory deli sandwich with an Eastern European twist.

Grilled Salmon Sandwich

Grilled salmon sandwich on pumpernickel with a garlic-lemon-dill sauce, tarragon-seasoned fillets, Boston lettuce, and Roma tomatoes. Light, bright, and low calorie.

Salmon Classic

This classic salmon is always welcomed by party. For sure, but also a good appetizer at any meal.

Pumpernickel Pus Lumps

Pumpernickel pus lumps: a gross-out Halloween appetizer with whipped cream cheese and capers on toasted pumpernickel. Three ingredients, 15 minutes, and guaranteed to make kids squeal.

Chocolate Malted Ice Box Pudding

A no-cook icebox pudding with whipped cream, malted milk powder, grated chocolate, and pumpernickel bread crumbs. Chill overnight and serve this retro gem straight from the fridge.

Pumpernickel Stuffing

Pumpernickel bread stuffing made with duck drippings, sauteed onions, and a mix of pumpernickel and white bread cubes. A hearty, earthy side dish baked alongside roast duckling.

Super Creamy Spinach Dip

Creamy spinach dip with Knorr vegetable mix, sour cream, and mayonnaise, served in a hollowed pumpernickel loaf. A no-cook party classic that hits the table in five minutes flat.

Reuben Soup#1

All the flavors of a Reuben sandwich in soup form: corned beef, sauerkraut, potatoes, and caraway in a bacon-enriched broth with pumpernickel croutons and Swiss cheese.

Crab Avocado Melt

Open-faced crab avocado melt on pumpernickel with creamy crab salad, sliced avocado, and melted Colby cheese. A 15-minute lunch that feels way fancier than the effort involved.

Spinach Dip in Pumpernickel

Creamy spinach dip with sour cream, mayo, water chestnuts, and vegetable soup mix served in a hollowed pumpernickel bread bowl. A retro party classic that keeps for a week in the fridge.

German-Style Stuffed Pork

German-style pork tenderloin marinated in beer and cider vinegar, stuffed with pumpernickel and beer-soaked raisins, then rolled and roasted. A Bavarian Sunday roast with sweet-sour depth.

Krestianskiy Zavtrak(Peasant Breakfast)

Russian peasant breakfast skillet with crisp pumpernickel croutons, smoky bacon, kielbasa, sautéed onions, and runny eggs, garnished with fresh dill. A hearty, rustic farmhouse start to the day.

Danish Blue Cheese Pie

Savory no-bake Danish blue cheese pie on a pumpernickel crumb crust, topped with fresh green grapes. A bold, tangy appetizer that doubles as an elegant cheese course.

Green Mountain Potato Chowder

Green Mountain potato chowder simmered in beef broth with carrots, tomatoes, leeks, and celery root, finished with sour cream and topped with pumpernickel-bacon croutons.

Trump's Chocolate Pumpernickel Pudding

A rich chocolate bread pudding made with pumpernickel, currants, and a custard of egg yolks, cream, and two kinds of chocolate. Baked in a water bath until silky and set.

Pike Sandwiches with Cambridge Sauce

Fried pike sandwich with Cambridge sauce: cornmeal-crusted pike fillets on pumpernickel, slathered with a classic English herb sauce of hard-boiled egg, anchovies, capers, and tarragon.

Krestianskiy Zavtrak (Peasant Breakfast)

Krestianskiy zavtrak is a hearty Russian peasant breakfast: pumpernickel croutons crisped in butter, layered with bacon, kielbasa, and onions, then topped with eggs cooked until the yolks stay just runny.

Reuben Soup #1

Reuben sandwich in soup form with corned beef, sauerkraut, potatoes, caraway seeds, and dry mustard. Topped with buttery pumpernickel croutons and grated Swiss cheese.

Old World Walnut Stuffing

European-style turkey stuffing made with rye and pumpernickel bread, toasted walnuts, and fresh thyme. A bold, earthy alternative to classic white bread stuffing.

Hearty Reuben Soup

Hearty reuben soup with corned beef brisket, sauerkraut, red cabbage, and dark beer, finished with melty swiss cheese and pumpernickel croutons. Every bite of a classic deli reuben in a bowl.

All 21 recipes