Ontbijtkoek

Ontbijtkoek, also known as peperkoek, is a delightful spiced cake hailing from Dutch and Flemish cuisine. Its main ingredient is rye, which imparts the cake’s distinctive light brown hue. The cake is infused with warming spices such as cloves, cinnamon, ginger, candied citrus peel (succade), and nutmeg. Various regions in the Netherlands offer unique variations of this treat. For example, the northern areas are celebrated for oudewijvenkoek, a version flavored with aniseed.

Traditionally, ontbijtkoek is enjoyed at breakfast with a generous spread of butter, though its sweet taste also makes it a popular snack at any time. For the best flavor, it is recommended to consume it the day after baking.

The cake has an intriguing historical connection to Indonesia, stemming from the colonial era ties between Indonesia and the Netherlands.

Originally called 'peperkoek,' this cake was crafted from breadcrumbs and leftover bakery items stored in attics. These ingredients were periodically collected, pressed together, and enhanced with black pepper to mask any staleness, hence the name ‘peperkoek.’ At the time, pepper was a prized spice traded by the Dutch East India Company and was commonly incorporated into various Dutch dishes.