I’m Manuela

I’m Manuela Streckenbach the baker, taste-tester, and very enthusiastic snacker behind The Open Oven. I’m 29, I own an unreasonable number of mixing bowls, and I believe with my whole heart that a good sweet treat shouldn’t require a pastry degree (or even, half the time, an oven).

I grew up between two worlds. My mom’s side is French, my dad’s is American which means my childhood smelled like both butter rich French desserts and the easy, cozy American treats that came together on a whim. I loved both. But here’s the thing nobody tells you about growing up around French baking: it can feel a little intimidating. All that precision, all those steps. For a long time I genuinely thought “real” desserts had to be complicated.