10 Traditional Dutch Cookies

Unfortunately, outside of Dutch families and the Netherlands, not many people are familiar with Dutch cookies or Dutch recipes in general. Most people have heard of Dutch stroopwafels, but there’s not a lot of knowledge beyond that. That’s why I’ve pulled together this list of 10 of my all-time favorite Dutch cookie recipes. Stroopwafels made the list, of course, but so did traditional pepernoten and almond lace cookies. So check out this list, and afterward, you’ll have a few new cookies to showcase at your next family gathering.

1. Kue Kastengel (Dutch-Indonesian Cheese Tarts)

These Dutch cheese tarts are the perfect balance of sweet and savory. If you prefer your desserts to have a touch of rich cheesiness to them, give these a try. They’ll take about 40 minutes to make, but you can create anywhere between 40 and 45 cheese tarts in that time, so it’s not a bad trade-off at all. They’ll taste best with Edam cheese. However, if you live in the States and have a hard time finding it, you can substitute parmesan or gouda. Either way, you’ll have a slightly sweet, supremely cheesy treat that everyone will love.

2. Kletskoppen: Dutch Almond Lace Cookies / Florentines

If you can’t pronounce the word ‘kletskoppen,’ don’t worry about it. Just call these Dutch almond lace cookies (or Florentines) instead. Whichever term you use, Dutch people will know what you mean. These cookies are fabulous. They’re unbelievably thin and crispy – almost more like chips than cookies – but their sweet and nutty, caramel and cinnamon taste is 100% cookie. If you like your sweets to have a bit of crunch to them, these are the only way to go; no other “crunchy” cookie will ever compare.

3. Krakelingen: Sweet Dutch Pretzel Cookies

Krakelingen, or sweet Dutch pretzel cookies, might look challenging to make, but in truth, they’re probably the easiest cookies on this entire list. You’ll need only three ingredients: puff pastry dough, water, and sugar. That’s it! Roll out the dough, add some water, cut and shape the cookies, cover them in sugar, and bake them. The whole process shouldn’t take more than 80 minutes, and much of that is chill time in the fridge between steps! These are cookies that even beginner chefs can’t mess up.

4. Dutch Stroopwafels

Ah! The famous Dutch stroopwafels. Just about everyone has heard of them – even if they haven’t tried them – and for good reason. They’re awesome, and their reputation precedes them. They’re thin and crispy (though not as much as the kletskoppen above) and have a gooey caramel center that’s good to the last lick, and yes, you will want to lick it off your fingers. They’ll take some time to get right, and you’ll need a waffle iron to make them, but they’re definitely worth the effort.

5. Arnhemse Meisjes

I don’t know what it is about Dutch chefs and these super thin, super crunchy cookies, but they’re experts at making them. These flat, sugar-coated wafers have an excellent sweet and tangy taste that’s surprisingly complex, considering you’ll only use five ingredients to make them. You’ll start with puff pastry squares and add vanilla sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, and lime zest. Perhaps it’s the contrasting ingredients that give these cookies their distinct flavor. Whatever it is, I’m a huge fan, and I think you will be, too!

These lovely Dutch cookies are a traditional staple of the Netherlands and German holiday celebrations. They, too, are delightfully thin, but they have a soft, chewy texture, which sets them apart from the mostly crunchy cookies on this list. There are several ingredients in these sweet treats, but they aren’t challenging to make. However, you will have to make the dough at least a day ahead of time, so don’t wait till the last minute. They’ll have a darkly sweet, rich taste that combines honey, brown sugar, ground anise, and more. They’ll remind you of sugar cookies, molasses, and licorice all rolled into one.

7. Dutch Speculaas Cookies

Speculaas are another Dutch cookie many people are familiar with, primarily because cookie companies often include them in holiday cookie tins. Whether you decide to use a carved rolling pin to make the cookies extravagantly beautiful like these in the recipe or not, the warm, spiced flavor and crisp texture remain the same. Still, if you’re going to make the cookies anyway, why not go the extra step and use a pretty rolling pin to make them look as impressive as they taste? Though, to be fair, they’re so good that they don’t last long enough for most people to admire them, anyway.

8. Pinda Koeken Repechage

These moist, nutty cookies have a unique look and a superb taste. They’re also relatively easy to make and require only seven ingredients. Like the honey spice cookies above, you’ll have to make the dough for these a day ahead of time. Otherwise, they’re simple, straightforward treats that won’t take long to prepare and bake. And best of all, you probably have everything you need to make them in your kitchen already. You’ll need nothing more than butter, flour, sugar, light brown sugar, salt, unsalted peanuts, and an egg. What are you waiting for?! Go whip some up now!

9. Traditional Dutch Pepernoten

These traditional Dutch cookies may look a bit odd, but they’ll taste fantastic. They’re soft, chewy, and richly flavored with honey, Dutch pancake syrup, spice mix, and ground aniseed. Honestly, they’re a lot like the TaaiTaai above, but their flavor isn’t as intense.

These tasty, filled cookies are like tiny pies stuffed with marzipan fillings. They’re simple to make and have a sweetly tart sugar and lemon flavor that’s spectacularly yummy. The edges of the cookies are crisp, but the insides are soft and fluffy, perhaps even a little cake-like. If you’re already a fan of marzipan, you’ll love them. If you’re unsure about your thoughts on marzipan, give them a try anyway. I don’t know many people who don’t enjoy them. Click on a star to rate it!

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