Nonnevot is a unique pastry originating from Limburg, dating back to at least the 17th century. The dough is prepared with flour, yeast, milk, salt, butter, lard, and brown sugar. It is then deep-fried until it develops a golden-brown color. Although nonnevot has traditionally been associated with the carnival, today it can be bought in many regional bakeries.
The unusual name of this pastry means nun's butt, referring to its knotted shape and the knot on the back of a nun's uniform.
Zeeuwse bolus is a sweet Dutch pastry that is quite similar to the famous cinnamon roll. Best consumed warm, the sticky, gooey, and tender bolussen consist of flour, milk, salt, sugar, yeast, and butter. They are traditionally flavored with a combination of dark brown sugar and ground cinnamon, which melts nicely when these treats are baked.
It is believed that bolussen were originally prepared by Sephardic Jewish bakers in the early 17th century. Today, Zeeuwse bolussen are said to taste the best when paired with some butter and a cup of coffee on the side.
A traditional, sweet Dutch pastry known as appelflap consists of pastry dough that is filled with apples, raisins, sugar, and cinnamon. The dessert is traditionally covered with sugar granules on top. It can be found throughout the country in numerous bakeries or places where coffee and tea are served.
The crispy appelflap is also often served for breakfast as a hot and tasty treat.
MOST ICONIC Appelflap
Oliebol is a traditional and Belgian snack that can be literally translated as oily ball. The dough, which is deep-fried in hot oil, is made with flour, eggs, yeast, milk, and baking powder. The exterior is crunchy, while the interior is chewy and soft, just like a true representative of comfort food at its best.
Traditionally, the fritters are sprinkled with powdered sugar, while some varieties are filled with raisins or currants that were previously incorporated into the dough. Oliebollen are often prepared and consumed at numerous fairs, and they are especially popular during the Christmas and New Year period.
MOST ICONIC Oliebol
View moreBossche bol is a Dutch specialty from s'Hertogenbosch: a traditional, chocolate-coated, whipped cream-filled pastry. These pastry balls are characterized by their large size, which is why they are often served with forks, knives, and a number of napkins to clean the inevitable mess made while consuming them.
It is believed that the sweet treat was invented by Henri van der Zijde in 1920. Today, bossche bollen are traditionally paired with a cup of coffee on the side. There is also a version of Bossche bol that is twice its size, called a reuzenbol, while moorkop is a similar pastry, but much smaller.
MOST ICONIC Bossche bol
Letterbanket is a flaky Dutch pastry that is typically made with a combination of flour, butter, and eggs. The pastry is shaped into letters, filled with almond paste, and dusted with sugar. The letter is usually the first letter of the family’s last name, but sometimes each person gets a small letterbanket with the first letter of their name.
These sweet treats are traditionally served on December 5, known as Sinterklaasavond. Letterbankets are also quite popular in the United States, particularly in Iowa and Michigan.
Banket or banketstaaf is a traditional pastry consisting of puff pastry that is filled with almond paste. It is sometimes additionally brushed with fruit jam and garnished with cherries or almonds on top. The pastry is usually prepared during the Christmas festivities, and it is recommended to dust banketstaaf with powdered sugar, serve it sliced, and pair it with a cup of coffee.
Moorkop is a decadent Dutch dessert consisting of a choux pastry that is filled with whipped cream and glazed with chocolate. The dessert is finished by topping it with some more whipped cream and, optionally, pieces of fruit such as pineapple or tangerine.
The name moorkop means Moor's head, referring to the fact that the chocolate topping resembles his turban.
Gemberbolus is a traditional pastry studded with ginger, also known as a ginger bun or ginger roll. It is made with candied ginger, milk, yeast, flour, salt, sugar, cinnamon, eggs, vanilla, and butter. This pastry is believed to have been prepared during the time of Jewish influence on Dutch cuisine, and nowadays it can be found in numerous Dutch bakeries.
Because it is very sticky, gemberbolus is traditionally baked and sold in an aluminum cup.
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