Stroopwafels
The Dutch love their stroopwafels - literally translated as syrup waffles. This is one of the more easy things that are able to be enjoyed that are typically Dutch - they are relatively cheap, available everywhere and unlike a lot of other typically Dutch products and customs, this one is in no way quirky or peculiar.
Stroopwafels are a type of waffle that are made of two thin layers of a baked batter with a rich caramel tasting syrup in between. The waffle batter is stiff and made from eggs, milk, yeast, brown sugar, butter and flower. The batter is then placed on a hot waffle iron - once baked it is sliced through the middle in to two circular halves. While the filling is still hot - made from syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon and butter - it is spread between the two waffle havles. As the syrup cools it sticks the two halves of the waffle together.
Getting the Stroopwafel
There are two places to get your stroopwaffels. The first is in any Dutch supermarket. Head straight for the cookie section and they will be there on the shelf. The other option - and the better option - is to go to a street vendor. Outside of Amsterdam, the street vendors are not always around. Your best bet is to go to a city center on a Saturday and visit the main market area in the inner city - Saturday is the usual day for the inner city street markets. You should find a few stroopwaffel vendors - at least one - in each city that will make your stroopwaffel fresh while you wait. The vendor will make it in front of you so you get to see the whole process!
History of the Stroopwafel
The stroopwafel is through and through a product of the Dutch. It originates from Gouda, a town in the west of the Netherlands. It was first made towards the end of the 18th century and it is believed that it was created by the baker Gerard Kamphuisen. He collected the crumbs and other left overs from his bakery and combined them with syrup. The stroopwafel, due to being made from left overs, was very cheap but at the same time also very tasty. So began the rise in popularity of the stroopwafel. At the time it was often refered to as the poor man's cookie (armenkoeken).
© 2009 myholland.info All Rights Reserved
