Knieküchle is a traditional Austrian/German fried dough pastry that is very popular in Old Bavaria, Franconia, Western Austria, South Tyrol and Thuringia.

It has several other names depending on the region, including Auszogne (or Ausgezogene), Krapfen, Küchl, Nudel, Rottnudel and Schmalznudel.

In Austria and in South Tyrol it is eaten with apricot marmalade, lingonberry jam or sauerkraut.

In Franconia, people also differentiate between "catholic" and "protestant" Knieküchle depending whether it is dusted with confectioner's sugar or not.

According to legend, the name derives from the practice of baker women from Franconia that stretched the dough over their knees very thinly so they could read love letters through it.