Naegelin's Bakery

This little bakery is the oldest in Texas. In business since 1868, it still sells authentic German baked goods in downtown New Braunfels (originally a German settlement). The extensive offerings include coffee cakes, cookies, pies, and the famous apple strudel, along with other offerings whose flavors will take you back in time: The owners say the strudel recipe is unchanged since the 1800s, and the brownies have a distinctly old-fashioned cocoa flavor.

The bakery began when Edouard Naegelin, a German immigrant, arrived in New Braunfels and started selling bread, which soon ramped up to a full-time bakery. Over time, it became an institution. In 1980, the Granzin family bought the bakery from the Naegelins, but they committed to the traditional German recipes. The offerings include German cookies you'd be hard pressed to find in any other store stateside, such as lebkuchen and springerle, although you can't go wrong with the apple strudel, the bakery's most popular item.

In true Texas style, the bakery has a drive-in. But for the full, friendly experience, you'll want to go inside.