diff --git a/src/lib/components/SearchLoader.svelte b/src/lib/components/SearchLoader.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c3a03b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/components/SearchLoader.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,180 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import { onMount, onDestroy } from 'svelte';
+
+  type Scope = 'local' | 'web';
+  type Size = 'sm' | 'md';
+  let { scope = 'local', size = 'md' }: { scope?: Scope; size?: Size } = $props();
+
+  const LOCAL_MESSAGES = [
+    'Stöbere im Rezeptbuch …',
+    'Schaue unter den Topfdeckeln …',
+    'Krame in den Gewürzregalen …',
+    'Durchsuche Omas Geheimrezepte …'
+  ];
+  const WEB_MESSAGES = [
+    'Schnuppere in fremden Küchen …',
+    'Befrage Chefkoch, Emmi und Co. …',
+    'Durchforste die Kochblog-Gassen …',
+    'Klopfe an Internet-Kochtöpfe …'
+  ];
+
+  const EMOJIS = ['🍳', '🥘', '🍲', '🍜', '🥣'];
+
+  const messages = $derived(scope === 'web' ? WEB_MESSAGES : LOCAL_MESSAGES);
+  let msgIdx = $state(0);
+  let emojiIdx = $state(0);
+
+  let msgTimer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null;
+  let emojiTimer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null;
+
+  onMount(() => {
+    msgTimer = setInterval(() => {
+      msgIdx = (msgIdx + 1) % messages.length;
+    }, 1800);
+    emojiTimer = setInterval(() => {
+      emojiIdx = (emojiIdx + 1) % EMOJIS.length;
+    }, 900);
+  });
+
+  onDestroy(() => {
+    if (msgTimer) clearInterval(msgTimer);
+    if (emojiTimer) clearInterval(emojiTimer);
+  });
+</script>
+
+<div class="loader" class:sm={size === 'sm'}>
+  <div class="pot-wrap" aria-hidden="true">
+    <span class="steam s1">·</span>
+    <span class="steam s2">·</span>
+    <span class="steam s3">·</span>
+    <span class="pot">{EMOJIS[emojiIdx]}</span>
+  </div>
+  <p class="caption" aria-live="polite">{messages[msgIdx]}</p>
+</div>
+
+<style>
+  .loader {
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: column;
+    align-items: center;
+    gap: 0.5rem;
+    padding: 1.75rem 0;
+  }
+  .loader.sm {
+    padding: 0.85rem 0;
+    gap: 0.35rem;
+  }
+  .pot-wrap {
+    position: relative;
+    width: 80px;
+    height: 80px;
+  }
+  .loader.sm .pot-wrap {
+    width: 50px;
+    height: 50px;
+  }
+  .pot {
+    font-size: 2.8rem;
+    position: absolute;
+    bottom: 0;
+    left: 50%;
+    transform: translateX(-50%);
+    transform-origin: 50% 85%;
+    animation: wobble 1.4s ease-in-out infinite;
+    display: inline-block;
+  }
+  .loader.sm .pot {
+    font-size: 1.8rem;
+  }
+  .steam {
+    font-size: 1.7rem;
+    font-weight: 900;
+    color: #8fb097;
+    position: absolute;
+    bottom: 55%;
+    opacity: 0;
+    line-height: 1;
+  }
+  .s1 {
+    left: 22%;
+    animation: rise 2.4s ease-out infinite;
+  }
+  .s2 {
+    left: 50%;
+    transform: translateX(-50%);
+    animation: rise 2.4s ease-out infinite 0.6s;
+  }
+  .s3 {
+    left: 72%;
+    animation: rise 2.4s ease-out infinite 1.2s;
+  }
+  @keyframes wobble {
+    0%,
+    100% {
+      transform: translateX(-50%) rotate(-7deg);
+    }
+    50% {
+      transform: translateX(-50%) rotate(7deg);
+    }
+  }
+  @keyframes rise {
+    0% {
+      opacity: 0;
+      transform: translate(-50%, 0) scale(0.6);
+    }
+    25% {
+      opacity: 0.9;
+    }
+    100% {
+      opacity: 0;
+      transform: translate(-50%, -34px) scale(1.6);
+    }
+  }
+  .s1,
+  .s3 {
+    transform: none;
+  }
+  .s1 {
+    animation-name: rise-left;
+  }
+  .s3 {
+    animation-name: rise-right;
+  }
+  @keyframes rise-left {
+    0% {
+      opacity: 0;
+      transform: translate(0, 0) scale(0.6);
+    }
+    25% {
+      opacity: 0.9;
+    }
+    100% {
+      opacity: 0;
+      transform: translate(-8px, -34px) scale(1.5);
+    }
+  }
+  @keyframes rise-right {
+    0% {
+      opacity: 0;
+      transform: translate(0, 0) scale(0.6);
+    }
+    25% {
+      opacity: 0.9;
+    }
+    100% {
+      opacity: 0;
+      transform: translate(8px, -34px) scale(1.5);
+    }
+  }
+  .caption {
+    color: #6a7670;
+    font-style: italic;
+    font-size: 0.95rem;
+    margin: 0;
+    min-height: 1.3em;
+    text-align: center;
+  }
+  .loader.sm .caption {
+    font-size: 0.85rem;
+  }
+</style>
diff --git a/src/routes/+layout.svelte b/src/routes/+layout.svelte
index 651ccff..00665aa 100644
--- a/src/routes/+layout.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/+layout.svelte
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
   import { profileStore } from '$lib/client/profile.svelte';
   import ProfileSwitcher from '$lib/components/ProfileSwitcher.svelte';
   import ConfirmDialog from '$lib/components/ConfirmDialog.svelte';
+  import SearchLoader from '$lib/components/SearchLoader.svelte';
   import type { SearchHit } from '$lib/server/recipes/search-local';
   import type { WebHit } from '$lib/server/search/searxng';
 
@@ -135,7 +136,7 @@
         {#if navOpen}
           <div class="dropdown" role="listbox">
             {#if navSearching && navHits.length === 0}
-              <p class="dd-status">Suche läuft …</p>
+              <SearchLoader scope="local" size="sm" />
             {:else if navHits.length > 0}
               <ul class="dd-list">
                 {#each navHits as r (r.id)}
@@ -172,7 +173,7 @@
             {:else}
               <p class="dd-section">Keine lokalen Rezepte – aus dem Internet:</p>
               {#if navWebSearching}
-                <p class="dd-status">Suche im Internet läuft …</p>
+                <SearchLoader scope="web" size="sm" />
               {:else if navWebError}
                 <p class="dd-status dd-error">Internet-Suche zurzeit nicht möglich.</p>
               {:else if navWebHits.length > 0}
diff --git a/src/routes/+page.svelte b/src/routes/+page.svelte
index 8f6503c..71d8553 100644
--- a/src/routes/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/+page.svelte
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   import type { SearchHit } from '$lib/server/recipes/search-local';
   import type { WebHit } from '$lib/server/search/searxng';
   import { randomQuote } from '$lib/quotes';
+  import SearchLoader from '$lib/components/SearchLoader.svelte';
 
   let query = $state('');
   let quote = $state('');
@@ -102,7 +103,7 @@
 {#if activeSearch}
   <section class="results">
     {#if searching && hits.length === 0}
-      <p class="muted">Suche läuft …</p>
+      <SearchLoader scope="local" />
     {:else if hits.length > 0}
       <ul class="cards">
         {#each hits as r (r.id)}
@@ -129,7 +130,7 @@
     {:else if searchedFor === query.trim()}
       <p class="muted no-local-msg">Keine lokalen Rezepte für „{searchedFor}" — Ergebnisse aus dem Internet:</p>
       {#if webSearching}
-        <p class="muted">Suche im Internet läuft …</p>
+        <SearchLoader scope="web" />
       {:else if webError}
         <p class="error">Internet-Suche zurzeit nicht möglich: {webError}</p>
       {:else if webHits.length > 0}