Kaohsiung’s freshly baked traditional handmade cakes – enjoy the simple flavors of southern Taiwan!

The founder of Dier Handmade Freshly Baked Cakes, a third-generation baking family known for traditional cakes, is Lu [name obscured]. Starting from a young age, he has accumulated many years of rich cake-making experience. Growing up in a family where both parents were bakers, he was surrounded by the aroma of baked goods from childhood. After graduating from high school, he entered the baking industry. At first, he would get up before 6:30 a.m., before the shop opened, to study techniques on his own.

Lu [name obscured] said he has always loved the atmosphere of baking because everyone in his family are bakers—his parents, uncles, and aunts were all pastry chefs. Therefore, after graduating from vocational high school, he naturally chose this profession. Before professional bakers start their shifts in the morning, he would enter the shop at 6:30 a.m. to study techniques on his own.

“Experience is very important,” Lu said. “To become a good baker, you must thoroughly understand every ingredient. Even if recipes are the same, if ingredients used aren’t the same, the final product may still differ. Factors such as technique, temperature, etc., will all affect the taste. That’s why I’ve always emphasized experience.” Therefore, for him, he continuously strives to learn and gain experience, doing his best to perfect everything. Baking cakes is a medium for spreading joy. Seeing customers enjoy their treats or the happiness when cutting birthday cakes is his motivation and sense of achievement.

He originally aimed to open a cake decoration shop, but considering that even the most exquisite products can go out of season or fall out of fashion, and also because his mother prefers traditional flavors, he decided to focus on traditional homemade cakes. This dedication to reviving classic old-fashioned cakes is also his way of showing love to his family.

“The traditional cakes we bake here have a very simple and rustic flavor from the south,” Lu said. “Simplicity is a kind of honesty, a concept that doesn’t demand too much from the body. We use local ingredients such as butter, milk powder, cocoa powder, and cheese, without adding any artificial flavors or chemical additives. The cakes we make have a rich aroma, and the proportions of ingredients and techniques are carefully adjusted to achieve the best texture. We don’t pursue overly fluffy cakes, because the essence of a cake is its fragrance, and what stays with people is the lasting taste. We don’t make overly sweet cakes either, because the ultimate goal is health. What remains timeless is the genuine taste, so we continuously improve our techniques!”

A tray of freshly baked cakes comes out of the oven: golden cake, creamy cheese cake, Belgian chocolate cake, pumpkin cheese cake, and Japanese honey cake. Among them, the golden Japanese honey cake is the most popular; made with plenty of pure honey, it’s a super-popular treat in Japan. The slightly bitter Belgian chocolate cake contains imported Belgian chocolate beans with 53.7% cocoa content. The rich cheese cake, filled with premium imported cheese and cheese cubes from New Zealand and Australia, is a favorite among cheese lovers. The pumpkin cheese cake, made with specially selected pumpkin, rich cheese cubes, pumpkin seeds, and oat grains, is especially loved by elders... These freshly baked, soft, and hearty traditional cakes offer a delicate and smooth texture upon the first bite.

The honey aroma of the honey cake is irresistible to children; the rich and layered flavors of cheese and chocolate are preferred by young people; golden plain and pumpkin cheese cakes are most favored by elders. Watching these customers spread the word, Lu feels a deep sense of fulfillment.

% Golden traditional cake (recommended)