Stroopwafels

=Stroopwafel=

The stroopwafel is a waffle-shaped cookie that is commonly found in the Netherlands. This Dutch delicacy was first made by a baker in the town of Gouda in the year 1784. The local baker created the first known stroopwafel using extra bread crumbs. He sweetened the crushed crumbs with syrup. The snack started off as an experiment, and quickly spread throughout the shops and markets in Gouda. As they continued to spread in popularity, less people made them with scraps. The bread crumbs were substituted with higher-quality ingredients and are stuffed with many different fillings.

By the early 19th century there were close to a hundred shops and markets in the Netherlands. Families each had original stroopwafel recipes that were beginning to be passed down through generations. By the 20th century, the snack became so popular that they started to be mass-produced. By this time, it was common for the batter of stroopwafels to be made out of flour, butter, brown sugar, yeast, milk, and eggs. The stroopwafel is now typically prepared using a waffle iron in the home. The locals recommend that the snack is eaten with a warm cup of coffee or tea. By placing the cookie over the hot drink, the cookie becomes soft. Many people choose to make their own stroopwafels, but there are still a large amount of markets and cafes that sell them. The snack is so popular that the average person living in the Netherlands will eat 20 stroopwafels a year!