I love apples, my kids love apples…who doesn’t! It is almost fall. I see those almost ripe apples on our tree and I think it is time to do some research about some amazing Dutch apple recipes.

We are probably going into an Indian Summer. The temperatures are still high in the 80’s (more than 30 Celsius). It hasn’t been raining either. I think the last time was more than a month ago. I hope the lack of rain is not effecting our apples.

Then finally it rained yesterday. In a split second I was searching for the wind shield wiper switch in my car. Ugh, where was it again? It has been too long!

Our vegetable garden was losing the battle. The cucumbers were getting yellow instead of green, the green beans dried up and the tomatoes stayed small. And then our poor little apple and pear trees! We had great apples for the past 3 years. The pear trees are fairly new, so I didn’t expect any pears anyway, but ooohhh….my poor apples!

This year we had a lot, but they were so small! Still, they tasted delish, so it is time TO PICK THEM AND MAKE YUMMY GOODNESS!

What about these 9 Easy Dutch Apple Recipes:

1. Dutch Apple Pie (“Appeltaart”)

In the Netherlands there are different kinds of apple pies. This one has a top. Here you can find the recipe. Even though this is the traditional one, there is a Sweet Apple Pie and a super easy Apple Crumble for those who like a little more variety in their Apple Pies!!

2. Dutch Apple Turnovers (“Appelflappen”)

This is one of the easiest and most delicious “koffietijd” or after school snack when I grew up. Here is the recipe!

3. Heaven and Earth (“Hemel en Aarde” or “Hete Bliksem”)

Heaven are the apples and earth are the potatoes. What interesting winter dish can you make with these ingredients? Here is the recipe. There are several varieties for this dish and you can mix it up and even make it vegetarian.

4. Schoenlappers Taart (Shoe Shiner Tart)

Why is this pie or tart called like this? This is a recipe which is several hundreds years old. The story behind it is interesting. I love recipes with stories. This recipe is from the Golden Age which was roughly spanning the 17th century, in which Dutch trade, science, military, and art were among the most acclaimed in the world. Read all about it right here!

5. Appel Beignets

New Years 2018, I decided to use my “Oliebollen-mix” to make “Oliebollen”. These are a typical treat during New Year. You can get them in food trucks throughout the Netherlands during that time of year.

I remember, my mom made “apple beignets” one year with oliebollen-mix and I saw it again on the back of the “oliebollen-mix” pack, while I was making the batter. Haaa, that is going to be my next recipe to try. Keep checking back to see if I have made it already:0)

Here in the USA you probably know the beignets in New Orleans. Of course we bought a box when we visited this beautiful city.

6. Appel Stroop

This recipe is a must-have. I used to eat “stroop” on my toast and pancakes. It might sound weird, but try adding Dutch cheese and “stroop” on your next toast or pancakes.

“Stroop” has a lot of iron in it, so people often recommended women to eat it regularly to get their iron intake up to a normal level. Unfortunately the iron doesn’t come from the apples, but from the sugar beets, the Dutch use to make “stroop”with. It is a specialty, but it unfortunately has a lot of sugar in it.

So, it is so much easier and A LOT healthier, if you make it yourself. The only thing you need with this recipe is TIME;)…and a good amount of apples or pears. If you have about 20 apples or pears or a mix, you can get about 14 fl oz “stroop”.

What do you do?

• Juice the apples, if you have a juicer. If you don’t have a juicer, no problem! Cook the pieces of apples in a pot with a small amount of water until it boils, turn the heat off and put the apples aside overnight. The day after, put the apples through a fine mesh sieve or strainer.
• Boil the juice in a pot on low heat without lid. This can take a good amount of time. Check every 30 minutes. Scrape off any excess of foam. If the liquid is as thick as honey, your “applestroop” is done.
• You can keep the “stroop” in super clean glass jars.

If you cannot wait to try, get it at VanderVeen Dutch Store.

7. Apple Kaas Pannekoek (Apple-Cheese Pancake)

Wait, what? Cheese on your pancake? Yup, and put also a little “stroop” on them (See apple recipe #6)

The pancakes in the Netherlands are a bit different than here in the US. They’re more like crepes from France.
Nowadays when I ask the kids if they’d like to have some pancakes, the girls want “de Nederlandse Pannekoeken” and my boy wants the thicker American ones.

They’re very easy to make and I never measure the ingredients, but it’s something like this:

• 2 cup flour
• 2 cup milk
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 eggs
• slices of cheese (or shredded cheese) of choice and some apples of choice
• Whisk everything together. Except for the cheese or apples. If some lumps still appear, that’s fine.
• Melt 1 tbsp of butter in a big frying pan. Pour one ladle full of batter in the pan. Immediately put some slices of apple on top of the batter.
• Flip the pancake and top the pancake with cheese until it melts.
• ENJOY!!!

8. Zuurkool uit de oven met appel (Sauerkraut Oven dish with apple)

You won’t even think of this one, but we used to add apple or pine apple to our Sauerkraut Oven Dish. It is so delicious and it makes the dish more balanced with all the kinds of flavors…. On top of that, the kids love it too. Here you can find the recipe. (Then just scroll down a little) 

9. Spring Apple salad

For this salad you can actually choose whatever you have at your home.

For example you can boil some potatoes (like small red potatoes) and mix them with boiled eggs, apple pieces, onion, pickles and a salad dressing made of Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, salt and pepper, mustard and honey.

Change it up with some olives, avocado’s, grapes, grated carrots etc. Be creative;)

I would love to see your Dutch Apple Recipe creations.

Don’t forget to pin these recipes for me, thanks so much!

Danielle

Hello everyone,

Welcome to my Crafty Dutch Girl blog! Grab a cup of “koffie” and browse through fun blog posts about our Dutch family expat life in the USA, Dutch history, Dutch recipes, Dutch things to do in the USA and all kinds of crafts and activities. Don’t forget to connect with me for new ideas! “Groetjes en tot ziens”.