How to satisfy your cravings and look good at the same time.

Sometimes you just have a craving for something. Without reason.

Today was such a day. Actually, I had been craving ‘boterkoek’ for a few days now, but just didn’t get to make it.

Because, of course, I always seem to have an intense desire for that what is impossible.

Had I lived in the Netherlands, I could have gone to Albert Heijn or the HEMA and just buy a piece, but here my craving usually takes a little bit more preparation.

As it often goes with cravings, preparation is no part of it.

In this case though, it is a relatively easy fix. Because ‘boterkoek’ as the name kind of gives away, has mostly butter (=’boter’), flour and sugar and I have these ingredients!

Unfortunately, the name ‘boterkoek’ also kind of gives away to the fact that, indeed, this cake has butter, sugar and flour and as such is not your typical healthy snack. Making a ‘boterkoek’ would imply eating it as well and that is what held me back.

boterkoek

Then there was the ‘Track team Recognition Evening’ coming up and I so want to be that mother who thanks the coaches for their hard work and dedication by giving them a nice big fat gift card to a coffee place or super store, yet I am also that mother who thinks about that when she is without a car and only a few hours till the celebration.

What to do?

The answer was in the craving: making ‘boterkoek’! Easy to make, easy to share (trust me, you really do only want to eat a very small piece at the time) and now I can be that mother who brings a home-made gift. Win, win, and win!

The house smells great, the son works on the tags for the little gift bags and best of all, there is enough left to satisfy my craving and even share some with the kids.

Got hungry? I encourage you to try it. You probably won’t have the fancy special ‘boterkoek’ pan, boterkoek vormbut a 9” pie-pan will work, although you might have to use parchment paper, so it won’t stick too much to the bottom.

Don’t feel stingy when you cut it: you really do want to cut this in very small pieces, trust me.

Also, don’t skimp on the butter quality: the better the butter, the better your results.

 

Ingredients:

  • 200 grams unsalted butter (about 2 sticks- 1tbs)
  • 200 gram sugar (about 1 cup)
  • 250 gram flour (about 2 cups)
  • pinch of salt
  • flavor (I like to use a splash of vanilla and some lemon zest)
  • one egg, beaten.

Preheat the oven to 355 degrees Fahrenheit.

Grease your pie pan with butter or margarine, sides and bottom. (You might want to use parchment paper on the bottom.)

Mix sugar and butter until fluffy. Add salt and flavoring. Mix in the beaten egg, but keep about 1 tbsp. of egg mixture.

Mix in flour. The dough will be sticky.

Place dough in pan and smooth out. Brush top with the rest of the egg.

With a fork, draw a pattern (I don’t know why, but it looks pretty and it’s just the way the Dutch do it!)dutch picture

Bake for about 25-30 minutes in the middle of the oven, until golden brown.

Let cool down a bit before taking it out of the pan.

Slice in small parts and serve with a good cup of coffee.

 

Eet smakelijk!

Edith Schriever

About Edith Schriever

I am a Maine-igrant from the Netherlands. While my scientist husband fell in love with the beautiful research institute here, I fell in love with Mount Desert Island. Mountains, ocean, wild life, peace and quiet! A culture change? Yes, a bit. Americans are not at all like the Jerry Springer audience I saw on TV when living in the Netherlands, well, at least not everyone. Portions are big and toilets small and low; I have learned to embrace the cultural differences.