Heidrun Metzler

ABOUT THE BOOK

Love a little ‘sweet treat’ but not too sweet? Just in time for holiday baking, the over 50 recipes in German Heritage Baking, Volume I: Time-Honored Recipes, Traditional Techniques, and Culinary Secrets deliver rich flavor with a lighter touch of sugar. Heidrun Metzler’s welcoming collection invites home bakers into Germany’s storied baking heritage, from beautiful Black Forest Tortes to Cinnamon Star Cookies to shortcrusts filled with fruit and cream. She brings a cross-cultural perspective and old-world baking into modern homes with clarity, warmth, and joy.

Growing up in Germany, Heidrun fell in love with baking cakes, cookies, and tortes alongside her mother, aunt, and grandmother. Drawing on family traditions, she creates flavor-rich, low-sugar recipes with step-by-step instructions and QR-linked baking videos that help home bakers achieve professional results. With an easy-to-follow style, Heidrun offers generations worth of techniques and ingredient knowledge, with step-by-step guidance and sidebars containing vital tips and tricks that often go unmentioned in recipes. Bakers of all skill levels will learn essential techniques—like how to judge cake batter consistency, build a tender shortcrust in minutes, and gently fold egg whites or whipped cream without losing volume—with clear guidance and practical tips. New bakers will find a level of detail that inspires confidence, while seasoned bakers will appreciate the variety of recipes to deepen their art.

German Heritage Baking, Volume I has been recognized with multiple honors, including the American Legacy Book Awards (Best International Cookbook; Best Interior Design) and the National Indie Excellence Awards (Winner: Regional Cookbook, Finalist: Cover Design). A companion volume, German Heritage Baking, Volume II, will be published in 2026.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Heidrun Metzler is a German-born baker and author with a lifelong passion for sharing the traditions of European desserts. Raised in Oberursel (near Frankfurt) among the flavors of her relatives’ kitchens, she began baking at the age of 10. She studied social pedagogy and early childhood education, which deepened her appreciation for teaching and guiding others. She worked as a kindergarten and after-school grade teacher in Germany until she moved to the United States, married her husband, and raised their two sons. 

When not baking, Heidrun, an accomplished equestrian and trick horse trainer, loves spending time with her horses. Her children’s book, Skeeter’s Dreams, features one of her horses as the main character. She discovered a passion for photography, capturing landscapes, horses, people, and her own baked creations, taking most of the photographs in her books. She also edits videos for her horse training and baking projects. Based on the Big Island of Hawaii, Heidrun and her husband have lived for more than 20 years on their macadamia nut farm.