Did someone say dessert!? Hop on board as we ride our way through the second instalment of Desserts Around the World! This time, we’ll be taking a trip to the Kingdom of the Low Countries...otherwise known as the Netherlands (where the amazing Deb is originally from!).
When you look up images of Dutch desserts, you'd probably be astounded at how many of them are cakes, cookies, and other pastries. Sounds good? Buckle up for this sweet adventure!
Directly translating to "oily ball" and oftentimes recognized as the precursor of the modern doughnut, this is a deep-fried Dutch pastry with a crunchy exterior, yet soft and chewy interior filled with pieces of dried fruit like currants, raisins, and sultanas. It is commonly topped with powdered sugar and served with hot coffee during the holiday season.
Can't choose between having cookies or waffles for snack time? Fret not, as the stroopwafels are here to give you the best of both worlds! A decadent wafer cookie that means "syrup waffles," a stroopwafel is made of two wafers filled with the luscious goodness of brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, vanilla, and maple syrup. To fully enjoy this treat as a true Dutch, place it atop a cup of coffee or tea and wait for the filling to melt for extra satisfaction!
If you're a huge fan of pancakes and would love a good excuse to eat it at any time of the day, then may we interest you in a poffertjes? Traditionally topped with melted butter and sprinkled with powdered sugar, these are mini Dutch pancakes that are regarded as snacks and rarely eaten for breakfast. Are you feeling a little bit extra? Try out variants with whipped cream, strawberries, or perhaps, gouda cheese.
Are crunchy foods more of your thing in comparison to fluffy pastries? Well then, we've still got you covered! Speculaas are spiced cookies with imprinted designs that are typically in the shape of a windmill. It comes in a wide variety of flavours and fragrances--cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg--and is served during St. Nicholas Day. However, if you can't wait till December, this is also perfect with a warm cup of tea or coffee during this winter season.
Lastly, while all of our previously mentioned desserts have flour as a common denominator, chocoladevla is an easy-to-make chocolate pudding that doesn't require much of your time, effort, and budget. It's made of 5 simple ingredients: salt, sugar, corn starch, milk, and most importantly, cocoa powder. Not a chocolate lover? Not a problem. With over fifty flavours to choose from, it won't take you long to find a vla ("custard" in Dutch) to love.
Though Dutch cuisine isn't very popular across foreign nations, reading more about it will ultimately lead you to only one conclusion: these foods are hidden gems that everyone must try at least once in their lifetime. Did your mouth water just by reading this blog post? Which among the five desserts is your favourite? We'd love to know your thoughts and insights in the comment section!
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