Petra Vigil of Petra's Backstubchen German bakery
Petra Vigil of Petra's Backstubchen German bakery - Petra Vigil brings the “old world” to Utah with her many traditional and quintessential German-baked goods at Petra’s Backstubchen.
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Petra’s Backstubchen: Craft Lake City Craft Food

By
August 3, 2022

Food: Interviews & Features

With the largest number of vendors to date, The 14th Annual Craft Lake City DIY Festival Presented By Harmons returns to the Utah State Fairpark with an exciting variety of homegrown DIY-ers. In the following pages, we’ve highlighted some craft foodies, inventors, performers, vintage curators and members of the next generation of artisans that will be participating in this year’s bustling event. Check out craftlakecity.com for more information about The 14th Annual Craft Lake City DIY Festival.

“I don’t change the recipes. To hear from customers that it tastes like how they remember it from Germany or their home is the best compliment for me,” Petra Vigil says.
Photo: John Barkiple

Petra Vigil brings the “old world” to Utah with her traditional German-baked goods at Petra’s Backstubchen. Vigil was first drawn to baking when watching her mother bake as a child while growing up in Kliding, Germany. After moving to Utah in 1991, she knew she wanted to start her own business. “I didn’t want a storefront, so I figured the farmers’ markets would be the right place for me,” Vigil says. “At one point, I did five markets a week!”

Many of Vigil’s recipes are laden with history and have remained the same throughout the decades. She draws the blueprints for many of her confectionaries from a cookbook she purchased when she was 18. “I don’t change the recipes. To hear from customers that it tastes like how they remember it from Germany or their home is the best compliment for me,” Vigil says.

Lately, her favorite sweet dish to bake is her wide assortment of flavored cheesecakes, which vary by season. “I love flavored cheesecakes,” she says. “I have mandarin orange, blueberry, lemon, chocolate, raspberry, strawberry and, for the fall season,
pumpkin cheesecake.”

Vigil showcases many other quintessential German desserts, such as streusels, almond cookies, soft pretzels and snowflake cakes made with shredded coconut and strawberry jam. Vigil sees her business as a passion for preserving a beloved part of the old country, and she cherishes the joy her shop brings to those who visit. You can find Petra’s Backstaubchen online at petrasbackstubchen.com/shop for more information.

Read more on past Craft Lake City Craft Food vendors here:
Aziza SLC: Craft Lake City Craft Food
The Curvy Spoon: Craft Lake City Craft Food