Welcome to Dirndl Kitchen! I’m Sophie Sadler, German food blogger, recipe creator, and the author of the cookbook 'German Home Kitchen' - pre-order your signed copy now!
Born and raised in Trier, Germany, I now live in Kansas City with my American husband and our three children. My passion for sharing authentic German recipes started from a deep longing for wanting to continue tasting the flavors of my German childhood. I grew up cooking and baking authentic German recipes with my Oma Sieghilde in her little retro-tiled kitchen.
In 2015, I launched Dirndl Kitchen to make authentic German cooking and baking accessible to anyone in the world. It was driven by the homesickness that kicked in after moving to America in 2009. I missed everything from the Christmas markets to the afternoon cake and coffee tradition called Kaffee und Kuchen sitting around Oma's kitchen table.
My mission is to bring authentic German cuisine to your kitchen!
Despite popular belief, German food is so much more than pretzels and bratwurst! (Although those are delicious too.) It’s comforting soups and stews, rustic breads, delicate cakes that are naturally less sweet, and unique flavors passed down through generations. My goal is to make traditional and modern German recipes approachable for home cooks and bakers everywhere. By breaking down hard-to-get ingredients into simple and easily accessible ingredients for you and giving you clear instructions you can really cook the best German food anywhere in the world!
You may be here to look for familiar recipes for the popular German pork Schnitzel, Rinderrouladen, or Vienna-style Apfelstrudel. Or maybe you're exploring new-to-you regional specialties like Trierer Flieten or Saarland-style Schwenkbraten. Dirndl Kitchen is your go-to resource for learning to cook German food with confidence!
Featured In Media & Press
I’ve been fortunate to share my love for German cuisine through various media outlets. Here are some recent features:
📰 News & Magazine Features
- German Food Expert for Tasting Table (2025) - From caramelized onion tips to the perfect thin Schnitzel tips to teaching about cabbage for homemade sauerkraut.
- Google for Publishers (2025) - How I turned my passion for real German food from a hobby blog to building a blogging blog!
- Kansas City Chiefs (2025) - I showed off some German in a super fun 'cash cab' themed 2025 schedule release video and photos with Chiefs players and cheerleaders.
- Trierischer Volksfreund (November 9, 2024)– Interview on my journey from Germany to the U.S., showcasing how German food is more than pretzels and bratwurst.
- Dear Trier (2024) – A personal feature on my background, living abroad, and my mission to bring authentic German cooking to a worldwide audience.
🎙️ Podcast Interviews
- Happy Subscribers (2025) - How I engage with my German food lovers via my free email newsletter.
- Multilingual Stories (2025) - My kids are fluent in German and English with the help of our au pair. Learn about the pros and cons of hosting au pairs.
- Eat Blog Talk (2024) – I shared my experience of growing an Instagram community to land a cookbook deal.
- Cook the Story (2024) – Here I talk about Germany’s number 1 fast food: Döner Kebab and how to make it at home.
📺 TV Appearances
- KSHB Kansas City Local News (2023) – Showcasing German-inspired appetizers for Kansas City Chiefs fans ahead of the team’s international game in Germany.
Let's connect!
Whether you’re discovering German cuisine for the first time, reconnecting with your German heritage, or simply looking for delicious different-than-your-usual home-cooked meals, I am so happy you're here!
Ways to learn, cook and bake with me
- 📚 My first cookbook 'German Home Kitchen' is available for pre-order now!
- 📩 Subscribe to my Newsletter (it's always free). Get German food inspiration and updates straight to your inbox. Join my FREE 3-day challenge to integrate more German food into your everyday life.
- 📸 Follow me on Instagram (@dirndlkitchen) for daily inspiration, tips, and new recipe ideas.
- 🇩🇪 Dirndl Kitchen membership 'The German Connection,' where you will gain access to exclusive video recipe tutorials, behind-the-scenes content, fun challenges, and help you stay connected to Germany.
- 🥐 Plunderteig 101 is my German Pastry School, where you will master the art of laminated dough and classic German pastries!
- 🥨 German Pretzel School is my signature online baking course, where you will learn to make a variety of authentic German pretzels, is opening up for enrollment soon! Get on the waitlist now!
Thank you for being part of this journey—I can’t wait to share more of the most craveable German recipes with you to help you feel closer to Germany.
Collaborations & partnerships
I’ve partnered with quality brands like Cristel, Whole Foods, Schaller & Weber and Wüsthof to create engaging, authentic content through recipe development, sponsored features, and photography. Want to collaborate?
👉 Email Me