Dutch Cookies

Popular Dutch Cookies

The Dutch love their cookies and when you visit a supermarket such as Albert Heijn you will find a big selection of them. I checked reviews for chefman air fryer and found a few popular ones: Bastogne cookies, Jodekoeken, Kletskoppen, Stroopwaffles, Mergpijpjes, Long Fingers, Speculaas, Bokkepootjes and there are many others you can choose from. I have made a compilation of some of the cookies in this picture below to give you a reference of what they look like:

I wondered, maybe just like yourself, who invented these type of cookies and what the history is of them. The Jodekoek (Jewish Cookie) for instance was presumably made by a Jewish baker from Amsterdam who made and sold these cookies in the 1920′s. Other sources indicate that it has nothing to do with Jews but that the baker with the family name “de Joode” created these cookies. Long Finger or in dutch Lange Vingers is a cookie that was invented a much longer time ago and still is very popular. They originate from the 15th century where they were made in France to honor a visit of the French King.

Speculaas – Dutch Windmill Cookie

This is a cookie that is mostly eaten in The Netherlands and Belgium. It is also known as Dutch Windwill cookies. It was traditionally eaten on St. Nicholas evening but became so popular that it is consumed all year round now. It is a type of biscuit which is slim and crunchy. It also has a print on the front of it. The cookie is made from brown sugar, white flour, butter and the following spices: cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, white pepper and cloves. There are several ideas about where the name Speculaas comes from, for instance in Latin: “speculator” which means he who sees everything. Which was also the nickname of St. Nicholas is the most probably one in my opinion. All together a delicious cookie that you should most definitely try if you get the chance to do so.

The Stroopwafel

A Dutch delicacy we will talk about today are the Stroopwafels. Cookies that are very popular in Holland. The cookie consist out of twee waffle parts with a sweet syrup in the middle. After cooking the dough one part of it is rubbed in with the syrup and the other dough part is put on top of it. Originally the stroopwaffle had a diameter of 10 centimeters but they are currently available from 5 to 25 cm. In the beginning of the 19th century they were first made in the city of Gouda. That’s why this cookie is also known as the “Goudse wafel”. The stroopwafels in that time were made from old cookie and dough leftovers combined with syrup and because of that they were very cheap. People called them the poor man’s cookies. Some funny Trivia: Since 2006 there is stroopwafel ice cream available also In New York they are selling Dutch Moon Cookies which are small stroopwafels dipped in different types of chocolate. There is a Dutch band from Rotterdam called: The Amazing stroopwafels. If you have never tried this type of cookies, make sure you do one day!

Jodekoeken Jewish Cookies

A Jodekoek is a large, flat cookie made out of shortcrust pastry and it has a diameter of about 10 centimeter. According to a very old story the first Jodekoek was baked in 1606. But for sure we know that a guy named Albert Govers had a bakery in Alkmaar and started making these in the year 1883. In 1924 he sold his company to Dirk Davelaar who came from Zaandam. He rebuild the store and placed a lot of advertising in the newspaper the Alkmaarsche Courant. This way his specialty, the Jodenkoeken got famous with the regions of Alkmaar but also outside of it.

Name

Jodekoek directly translates to Jewisch Cookie. Most people believe this names comes from the cookies a Jewish baker from Amsterdam made in the 1920’s. Other sources report however that the recipe has nothing to do with Jews but a baker with the family name “de Joode” made these cookies.

Then there is a third story even, the cookies are large but thin. With little money you could present large cookies. Many products that were cheap in former times were called Jewish. This was because they were known to be cheap, but also simply because they were poor. Therefor they were known for buying cheaper products. The name of the cookie was considered offensive in the 1970s, the producer considered changing the name but it never happened. However the Jodekoeken that were produced for export did get a different name.

In 1996 because of the change in spelling rules in Holland, some producers changed the name from Jodekoeken to Jodenkoeken, others just didn’t change the name of the cookie.

Apple Pie or Appeltaart

Apple Pie has a long standing tradition in the Dutch cuisine. The origination of the recipe is not known but in the first printed cooking book out of the year 1514 there is already a recipe for this amazing tasty pie. Part of the Dutch culture this pie is usually served alongside a cup of coffee. Nearly all cafe’s and restaurants have this on their menu. Even one of the biggest newspapers in The Netherlands, the Algemeen Dagblad does a Apple Pie test every year. That tells you something about the presence of this food in the Dutch culture.

How is it made?

Apple pie is a pie based on simply dough and apples, with optional addition of raisins and currants. The recipe and kinds of apples used will differ between countries. In Holland they commonly use Belle de Boskoop apples but can you use any apples you like. The most used recipe uses shortbread as the base and sides and the filling consist of small slices of apple, raisins, currants and sometimes lemon juice, rum and cinnamon. The top of the pie is made out of slices of dough shaped into a grid. Because it’s a grid you will be able to see the filling. The characteristic of this pie is that the filling is firm but soft at the same time. The dough is slightly crunchy. Talking about this delicious pie makes me crave a piece right now! If you feel like cooking one, check out this Apple Pie Mix at the Yummy Dutch store, it was never easier to make one yourself.