Schnecken are a type of sweet bun that was a traditional Saturday morning treat in German homes at the beginning of the 20th century and that was commonly found in the Jewish immigrant communities in the Philadelphia and Baltimore areas. The name schnecken means snails in German and refers to the shape of the pastry. The bun is still common in Germany, where the name is Schnecke (which is the German singular of schnecken), and in other parts of northern Europe.