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H.L. Fahnestock at Rentsch Brewery Oktoberfest 2022 with a 2 1/2 lb pretzel he made for the event.
TexBrötchen began as a cottage bakery in 2020 when owner H.L. Fahnestock started baking and selling his product online.
The German bakery has become popular since partnering with Rentsch Brewery May 14. Since, Mr. Fahnestock has received such a large influx in online orders that he has, at times, had to shut down his online ordering system to catch up.
Mr. Fahnestock’s family emigrated from Hagan, Germany, in 1726. His German roots influenced him as he grew up in Lebanon County, a German community on the northern edge of Pennsylvania. His mother baked him German pastries growing up and he continued this tradition by baking with his children.
When he visited his son, who was studying abroad in Hamburg, Germany, Mr. Fahnestock’s connection with his German heritage grew. Upon returning to the U.S. he began baking more. However, he still felt that there was a discrepancy between himself and his German origins. He said it is important to him to make sure that there is no American influence on TexBrötchen’s baked goods.
“German bakeries here have a tendency to Americanize their product set to have a broader appeal,” Mr. Fahnestock said. “The German ex-pats that I have spoken with here are very good at giving honest and direct feedback without being really nice about it. But getting that kind of feedback is really what I needed to hear in order to improve.”
TexBrötchen accepts online orders available for curbside pick up outside of Rentsch Brewery at 2500 NE Inner Loop. The bakery has also held popup events at other breweries and businesses in the area.
TexBrötchen’s full menu includes German breads such as mischbrot (rye-wheat flour sourdough), brötchen (small bread rolls), German style and Bulgarian style pretzels, and rosinenzopf (sweet braided yeast bread). Dessert options include German chocolate cake, Franzbrötchen (cinnamon rolls), Apfelkuchen (apple cake), and apfelstrudel (Viennese apple strudel). Bulgarian-style pretzels are his most popular menu item.
Although TexBrötchen is a German bakery, the menu has been influenced by other European cuisines including those of France, Austria and the Czech Republic. Franzbrötchen, for example, is a cross between a cinnamon roll and a croissant.
“But the heart of what I do is German baking,” Mr. Fahnestock said. “Especially when it comes to the bread, the rolls and really most of the desserts that I make. They are all German recipes.”