Ontbijtkoek is a traditional Dutch spice cake recipe. It’s a dense cake that is served at breakfast time or as a snack. While the bread is cooling, it is wrapped in aluminum foil. This creates a sticky, moist crust that the bread is known for. The cake is similar in flavor a strongly spiced gingerbread.
Ontbijkoek {Dutch Spice Cake}
I found a recipe for Ontbijkoek a few years ago. Before that, I had to special order it from a company that imports goods from the Netherlands. The recipe listed here is the recipe I have been making for the past year or so. It’s been modified from the original to be dairy free and a little sweeter.
I seem to get cravings for this cake whenever the weather turns cooler. I enjoy having a slice of this topped with a pat or two of butter. It’s delicious. This is also one of the homemade gifts I make for neighbors and friends. Paired with some homemade honey-butter, it makes a great holiday or housewarming gift. Try it for yourself!
Ontbijtkoek (Dutch Breakfast Spice Cake)
Ingredients
- 2 cups white whole wheat flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/3 cup molasses
- 1 cup coconut or almond milk
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
- Combine all ingredients until smooth with an electric mixer. Batter will resemble a thick pancake batter.
- Lightly coat a 8"x3" cake pan with coconut oil and fill with the batter.
- Bake 1 hour or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool in the pan for about 30 minute. Then remove cake from pan and wrap with aluminum foil. Keep wrapped for 24 hours before serving.
- Keep covered or bread/cake will dry out.
This looks delicious! I love the adorable pad of butter!!!! Pinning! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Angela. This was an old photo and I was trying to be creative. I need to reshot the recipe and post some newer pictures. 🙂
This looks super yummy! Pinned! 🙂
– Brooke –
Thanks Brooke. It’s an old family recipe that came from my mom.
Hi – I can’t wait to try this bread. My grandfather was from Holland. I’ll be using spelt flour since we have wheat sensitivities – thanks for visiting my site. I can tell from your meal plan that you are a good cook.
Thanks so much Debbie. I love to cook and try different things. I’m glad to hear it shows in my website. Spelt flour would be great with this bread. My mother is from the Netherlands, just outside Amsterdam actually. If you get the chance to try it, I’d love to hear how you like it.
Oh wow! I will have to try this! I am currently living in Amsterdam and haven’t seen this…I see more brioche than anything lol I have everything on hand too (which is a miracle since we moved back in May). …I am sure kiddo will love it…she may smear it in butter and cover it in hagelslag though! hahahaha
Butter and hagelslag… is there any other way to eat bread. It’s been years since I’ve been to the Netherlands, burr I used to find ontbijtkoek with the other snack cakes. I hope you enjoy this.