Clementine Kemper: The Hardest Part Is Taking the First Step (Food Creator, 143K Followers, Germany)

Clementine Kemper Interview

 

"Just try it and learn from your mistakes. Because it’s really not that hard, and you can’t really do anything wrong."

Q. What first sparked your love for baking and cooking, and how did you start sharing it online?

I've always been fond of food, and I think I first started to really bake when my friend introduced me to @sallyswelt, who bakes incredibly creative cakes. Then, in 2019, I baked my first two-tier cake with my sister for my grandpa's 80th birthday. 

Right after that came COVID, so I used the time to bake all kinds of things and also started to cook. During that time, my sister developed various food intolerances, and I think that’s also a reason why I am so interested in how things are made from scratch. 

After a while, I started making themed cakes, such as a swimming pool, a sports field, or a Sudoku book, for my family and friends, and everyone loved them. So, I thought I could also post them to give others inspiration, because I personally never found a cake that was just like the one I wanted to make. 

My first posts were about cakes. However, besides that, I also wanted to motivate people to bake and cook more things at home, because that’s just so much better. The idea of cooking with my grandparents only came to mind when I noticed that many people no longer know how to make those older, yet really easy meals. 

Additionally, my grandparents have some truly exceptional recipes from their former butcher shop, which I have always wanted to learn. And then the best way to remember them is to just film them. That way, I can also share them with all the other people.

Q. German cuisine has so many traditional dishes — which one holds the most special meaning for you, and why?

For me, two meals are special. I am not entirely sure if this one is truly typical German, but one of my grandmas always makes lamb with a rich gravy, oven-roasted potatoes, green beans, and Knödeln (potato dumplings) for Easter and Christmas. 

And that is really special for me because we only have it for special occasions, and it’s also so delicious. The other one is not that different because it’s also Knödel or Klöße with Rotkohl (red cabbage) and some kind of meat, such as goose or Rouladen. As it’s also something we only make on special days and in the winter, it makes for a cozy meal.

Q. Your recipes often bring a cozy, home-style feeling. How do you balance tradition with creativity when you cook or bake?

Usually, I try to make the traditional recipe, especially when I cook with my grandma, because I want to use her recipe. However, there are actually many different ways to make something, as every family has its own twist. 

However, I also try to recreate some dishes, such as Kohlrouladen (cabbage rolls), in a vegan version, because most German meals contain meat, and I think that needs to change in the future. 

But besides the vegan dishes, I also like to use leftovers to turn them into something different or new by just adding some more spices or veggies or cheese. Because that’s much better than eating the same thing over many days.

Q. What are some German dishes you think deserve more international recognition?

One of the most popular German dishes is Schnitzel. But besides that, Curry Wurst (Curry Sausage) or a good sausage in general deserves more recognition. But also meals like Knödel with Rotkohl, Sauerkraut, and a Haxe, or Käsespätzle, are delicious. 

And also, a really good bread or pretzels are really underrated. Overall, I think that some people think German food is not that good because, sometimes, it honestly does not look as appealing as advertised, and most of the time, we don’t use any fancy spices; instead, we just use pepper and Salt so that you still have the original flavor. So I think you just have to give that a try.

Q. Can you share a baking or cooking memory from your childhood that still inspires you today?

In general, I can say that it inspires me to see the progress over time. For example, when you compare my first cake with my last one. That’s also the case with Pizza. We always made our own Pizza at home, and it was always quite good. But by now it is just so much better.

But I definitely have one specific memory in our kitchen that I will never forget. One day, my sister and I wanted to bake muffins/cupcakes, and we had already filled the muffin tins with batter. However, when we tried to put them in the oven, the tins somehow fell over, causing all the batter to flow out. 

And the worst part was that they were standing on a grid and not a baking tray so the whole batter flowed into the oven and on the floor because it was a really thin batter. So I can only recommend you to place your muffin tins on a baking tray and not on a grid.

Q. Many people find cooking intimidating. What’s one tip you would give beginners who want to try German recipes at home?

Just try it and learn from your mistakes. Because it’s really not that hard, and you can’t really do anything wrong. For the most basic and typical German meals, you simply need to boil some potatoes, fry or cook some vegetables, and prepare some meat with gravy/sauce or just a sausage. 

That’s actually something that my grandparents cook most of the time. However, there are also more elaborate recipes that are still easy to prepare, such as Käsespätzle, Rouladen, or Reibekuchen. As my grandma always says, “Es ist nur ein drangeben,” which means it’s just a matter of getting started, and the hardest part is basically taking the time to actually start.

Bio

Clementine Kemper is a German food creator who shares her love for baking and cooking on @clems_kitchen_06, where she delights 143K followers with hearty recipes and homestyle flavors. 

A self-described “salty salt girl,” Clementin is passionate about Hausmannskost (traditional German comfort food). Inspired by family traditions and her grandparents’ recipes, she often puts her own spin on classics — from cozy potato dumplings and red cabbage to playful themed cakes. 

For her, cooking is about keeping traditions alive, embracing mistakes, and reminding people that the joy of food lies in sharing it with others.

Follow Clementine on Instagram

Interviewed By Irene Elina Eldhose