Der Apfel fällt nicht weit vom Stamm (dair AHP-fel felt nikht vite fohm SHTAHM) Literally “the apple does not fall far from the trunk” From apfel (apple) + fallen (to fall) + stamm (tree trunk or family line). This German proverb appears in collections by the late 1700s. It means children often resemble their parents, sometimes in looks and sometimes in habits. So if you bake like Oma, ach, what a surprise.