Kruidkoek is a spicy Dutch dessert similar to gingerbread, customizable with spices and optional dried fruit or nuts. It can be served hot or cold, with or without toppings, and even between slices of bread. It is believed to aid digestion and is sometimes used as a home remedy. Other Dutch cakes include krentenbrood, gevulde speculaas, kersttulband, oranjekoek, and Hollandse stroopkoek.
Kruidkoek, or kruid koek, is a spicy dessert that occurs in the regional cuisine of the Netherlands. This dense cake has a texture and flavor similar to gingerbread; its name simply means “spice cake”. This sweet treat can be served on its own for breakfast or dessert. It can also be eaten between slices of bread.
Variations of the pie might be named for the region of their origin. Friulian kruidkoek, for example, has its origins in Friesland, a coastal region where natives battled the Romans during that ancient civilization’s attempts to rule Europe. Groninger kruidkoek, or Groninger koek, comes from the city of Groningen.
The basic recipe for the cake depends on a customizable blend of spices, usually including cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, nutmeg and ginger. Cinnamon tends to be the most prominently included spice, because it has a milder flavor that can be overwhelmed by the heavier ratios of the other spices. Exact levels can be adjusted to taste.
The dry ingredients of kruidkoek include flour, dark brown sugar, baking powder, and the spice blend. These ingredients combine with melted butter and milk to form the spice cake dough. A greased pan is used to bake the cake for about an hour. The finished kruidkoek has a warm brown color and is firm to the touch. The cake is allowed to cool before being cut to serve.
This basic recipe for kruidkoek is open to variations depending on your taste preferences. During cooking, you can add dried or candied fruit or chopped nuts. A Nordic variation of the pie called oudewijvenkoek, or “old hag pie,” includes aniseeds in its spice blend.
The cake is often served with coffee or tea as drinks. It can be topped with a dollop of whipped cream, butter, or plain or flavored honey. Kruidkoek can be eaten hot or at room temperature. Locals sometimes eat it as a central ingredient between slices of fresh bread.
Kruidkoek is thought to help with digestive problems such as stomach pain and constipation. This is probably due to the inclusion of ginger and, in the northern version, aniseed. The cake is sometimes used as a home remedy in the Netherlands.
There are other cakes in Dutch cuisine, including krentenbrood, which is a yeast cake with currants. Gevulde speculaas is a spice cake filled with almond paste and ground walnuts. Kersttulband is a fruit-filled, spiced ring cake that is served at Christmas. Oranjekoek is an orange cake with anise seeds. Hollandse stroopkoek includes Dutch syrup, beer, currants, raisins and nuts.
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