Explore Guides
Local food map
Utrecht (Netherlands)
Hotels in area
Snack
Vegetarian
Food Flavour DNA
Nutritional Values
180kcal
2gProtein
40gCarbs
1gFat
2gFibre
50 gServing
* Per serving · 50 g. May vary.
Allergens
🌾 Gluten
Dutch Spiced Cake
How to order / say it
Say it
Peperkoek — [PAY-per-kook]
Order
I'd like a slice of Dutch spiced cake, please.
Locally
Ik wil graag een plakje peperkoek, alstublieft.
Say locally
A moist, spiced cake often served for breakfast or as a snack.
Why try it?
Peperkoek is a beloved treat, traditionally enjoyed with butter, embodying the Dutch love for spices and simple baked goods. Tasting it in Utrecht offers insight into local customs of wholesome, spiced flavors.
How it tastes
Peperkoek is fragrant with spices like cinnamon and cloves, offering a moist and hearty texture. It's subtly sweet, often enjoyed with warm drinks during the day.
Origin & History — first documented: 1650
Dutch spiced cakes have been a staple since the 17th century when spices became widely available in Europe. Peperkoek represents centuries of Dutch baking tradition, made in homes across the country, including Utrecht.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 🌾 250 g rye flour
- 🍯 200 g brown sugar
- 🍯 100 g honey
- 🧂 1 tsp cinnamon
- 🧂 1/2 tsp cloves
- 1 tsp baking powder
Method
- 1 Preheat oven and mix flour, sugar, and spices.
- 2 Add honey and water to the mixture to form a batter.
- 3 Pour into greased loaf pan and bake for 70 minutes.
- 4 Cool, slice, and serve with butter if desired.
More from Utrecht
🌿
Snack
Vegetarian
Utrechtse Spritsen
OOT-racht-suh SPRIT-suhn
A buttery, crumbly shortbread cookie traditional to Utrecht.
© Wikimedia Commons
Bread
Vegan
Rye Bread
Roggebrood
ROH-guh-broad
A dense, dark loaf made from rye flour, commonly eaten with cheese or butter.
Dessert
Vegetarian
Utrecht Tart
Utrechts Taart
oo-TREKTS tahrt
A traditional sweet pie with fruit filling.
© Wikimedia Commons
Snack
Fish & Seafood
Hollandse Nieuwe
HOL-lahns-uh NEE-wee-uh
Raw herring, traditionally served with onions and pickles.
© Wikimedia Commons
Soup
Vegetarian
Mustard Soup
Mosterdsoep
MOH-sterd-soop
A creamy soup made with coarse mustard, often topped with bacon or chives.
© Wikimedia Commons
Dessert
Vegetarian
Stroopwafel
strope-vah-fel
Thin, filled waffles with caramel syrup.
🥩
Main course
Meat
Beef Stew
Stoofpot
STOHF-pot
A hearty beef stew made with local vegetables.
© Wikimedia Commons
Dessert
Vegan
Quince Jelly
Kweeperengelei
KWEH-peh-ren-gheh-lai
A delicate jelly made from the fragrant quince fruit, enjoyed on bread.
Dessert
Vegetarian
Stewed Pears
Stoofperen
STOH-fuh-peh-rehn
A traditional dish of pears slow-cooked in red wine, spices, and sweeteners.
© Wikimedia Commons
Snack
Meat
Veal Croquette
Kalfskroket
KALFS-kro-ket
A breaded and deep-fried roll filled with creamy veal ragout.