Cakes, Pies & Pastries
Advocaat & Raspberry Cakes
My Pear & Advocaat Cakes are always such a hit that I came up with a Spring version, using raspberries. They're still light and fluffy, but they have a refreshing raspberry punch that also adds a dash of color.
Apple Pie Muffins
My apple pie recipe seems to be the most popular one on this whole website, so I thought I'd shamelessly create some simple muffins inspired by the Dutch classic to dangle like a fragrant apple & sultana flavored carrot.
Banana, Redcurrant & Almond Muffins
This easy recipe delivers a moist and moreish muffin that could be described as banana bread disguised as a muffin, enriched with toasted almonds and zesty redcurrants.
Banketstaaf (Dutch Christmas Log)
The 'banketstaaf' is a traditional Dutch pastry, served at Christmas time. Flaky puff pastry, decorated with cheery glace cherries, encases a soft, flavorful almond paste center.
Chipolatataart Recipe (Tulband Cake with Cherries, Walnuts & White Chocolate)
This beautiful celebration cake is usually enjoyed at Christmas and Easter time in the Netherlands and is also appropriate for birthday parties and indulgent coffee breaks. This style of cake is known as a 'tulband' ('turban') in the Netherlands, because of its distinctive shape. One exception is when the cake is made with dried cherries - this...
'It's a Girl!' Cupcakes (Chocolate Cupcakes with Aniseed Sprinkles)
Try our recipe for fluffy chocolate cupcakes with chocolate-cream cheese icing and a topping of sugared aniseed.
Chocolate Easter Cupcakes with Advocaat Frosting
These cupcakes are made with Dutch process cocoa and traditional Dutch advocaat liqueur. For Easter, I like them decorated with pastel sugar-coated Easter eggs nestled in little 'nests' made of chocolate shards.
Custard Slice of Heaven
The custard slice, or ‘tompoes’ as it’s called in Dutch is a very popular pastry here in the Netherlands. The Dutch even claim that an Amsterdam baker invented them, but they’re popular in so many parts of the world now, who knows? And, frankly, who cares? The pleasure’s all in knowing that they’re delicious to eat.
Dutch Apple Pie
Almost every cafe in Holland has a version of apple pie on its menu. It is Holland's pride, and with reason. My Dutch Apple Pie recipe delivers a really big pie, with a sandy-crisp, buttery crust and a pretty peek-a-boo lattice pattern on top. More importantly, it is fragrant and moreish -- give it a go.
Dutch Fruit Tart with Tropical Fruit (Tropisch Fruittaart)
This tropical fruit tart recipe is from the famous Holtkamp bakery in Amsterdam. While it looks a bit like a 'vlaai', that Limburgian speciality, it doesn't have a bready, yeast-based bottom but instead that of a regular fruit tart.
Gemberbolus Recipe (Jewish-Dutch Ginger Cakes)
Try this recipe for 'gemberbolus', a traditional Jewish-Dutch cake potent with ginger.
Individual Ham, Egg & Edam Cheese Tarts Recipe
These crustless tarts with Edam cheese, ham and eggs are low in carbs and gluten-free. They're fabulous for breakfast, brunch or, served with a fresh tomato salad, for lunch.
Jam & Coconut Meringue Tartlets
These delicious South African cookies will be more familiar as 'Hertzoggies' to some. A traditional Afrikaner treat, the little tarts may have been the lovechild of the Dutch's love for filled fruit pies (such as apple pie and 'vlaaien') and exotic colonial ingredients, like apricot and coconut.
Mini Dutch Apple Pies
Apple pie remains exceedingly popular at Dutch-style birthday parties or celebrations. These individual Dutch apple pies with apples, raisins, currants, hazelnuts and cinnamon will go down a treat. Miniature versions of cakes and pastries are always popular because they're much easier to serve than their grown-up incarnations. You can simply pop...
Orange & Banana Muffins
Muffins are a relatively recent trend in the Netherlands, but they have been fully embraced here, because they are so easy to make at home. Unlike Americans, the Dutch don't see muffins as a breakfast item, but rather as a sweet snack or treat. I like to come up with my own versions. Orange and banana smoothies (another import) are a favorite on...
Pear & Advocaat Cakes
Pears and Advocaat may sound like a surprising combo, but don't knock it till you try it. There is something about this delicate balance of flavors that really works! The result is a light, fluffy cake that is decidedly moreish. But why take my word for it? Make them and decide for yourself.
Romantic Wedding Cupcakes
I made these lemon cupcakes with cream cheese frosting for my wedding, so obviously I love them. While I used them for a rather extraordinary occasion in my life, I've served them in more everyday settings too. You can dress these easy-to-make cupcakes up or down with fancy cupcake cups and holders and sugar decorations for smarter settings,...
Slagroomtaart (Dutch Cream Cake)
For an authentically Dutch celebration, you simply have to make this festive cake. There's plenty of freshly whipped cream in this Dutch cream cake, hence the name. To cut through the richness, I like to use tart fruits, like raspberries and redcurrants, in-between the layers of plain sponge and cream.
Spijs Cakes (Spijscakejes)
My 'spijscakes' (no, not that type of spacecake) are made with that Dutch seasonal favorite, almond paste (called 'spijs' in the Netherlands), and enriched with almond liqueur. Flaked almonds add crunch and yet another level of deep almond flavor to these moreish muffins.
Speculaasstaaf (Dutch Spiced Cookie Log Filled With Almond Paste)
This is yet another version of 'speculaas', one of the Netherland's favorite treats. 'Speculaasstaaf' is a traditional Dutch pastry served at Sinterklaas and Christmas time. Or, these days, anytime. A crispy log made of gingerbread-cinnamon cookie dough, decorated with almonds and crystallized brown sugar, encases a soft, flavorful almond paste...
Spekkoek Recipe
This spiced multi-layered cake is an excellent example of the true fusion between Dutch and Indonesian traditions, and a popular delicacy in the Netherlands today.
Tarte Tatin with Poached Pears (Tarte Tatin van Stoofperen)
We adore the classic French dessert tarte Tatin. This version uses ´stoofpeertjes´, or pears poached in red wine, an old-fashioned Dutch treat that is also a favorite. So what could be better than a combination of the two?
Truffle Kruidnoten Cupcakes
These festive cupcakes were inspired by truffle 'kruidnoten', the latest twist on classic Dutch 'kruidnoten', those tiny ginger nut cookies eaten at 'Sinterklaas'. I'll describe it as an aromatic cakelet topped with a layer of crispy sweet white chocolate, dusted with bitter Dutch cocoa powder. Need I say more?