Dutch Yummies

It’s so hard to stick to sensible eating this time of year and it’s just as bad here in the Netherlands as back in Canada!

During the holiday season these stands can be found all over the Netherlands.   On shopping streets, train stations, tram stops… absolutely everywhere.  They are filled with freshly baked Dutch treats… and it smells sooooo good!  I drool every time I pass one.

They have all sorts of different kinds of baked goodies, some have only waffles and other shave a variety.  Regardless of what is in them though, they really add to the holiday atmosphere when you are out and about.   Between the delicious smells and the lights, you know when you are in town and see the Gebakkraam that Christmas is coming!

One of the main attraction of these stands are the oliebollen.  The Dutch love their oliebollen.   They are basically blobs of dough with cinnamon and raisins deep fried and then doused with icing sugar.   They also come in other variations like apple and cherry.

While the oliebollen are sold throughout the month of December, they are mostly a New Years treat.  On New Years Eve, the Dutch get out the ol’ deep fryer and whip themselves up a few dozen oliebollen to share with their friends.   They also make something called appelbeignet, which is apple rings deep fried in batter.   It’s sort of like an apple fritter, but different.   I prefer those to the oliebollen, but it’s not like I’ll be having much of either this year! 

Want to try and add a little Dutch spice to your New Years Eve party this year?   Here’s a recipe for oliebollen, try it out!