Belgian desserts ought to get more attention. Since Belgium is so near France, the latter tends to get all the commotion when it comes to traditional sweets. As for Belgium, well, most of what others only know are their delectable Belgian chocolates. And they are good, sure, but there's more to this country's sweets than them! There the creamy kind, the crunchy kind, the gooey kind, and more. Many of them are also easy enough to make on your own too! You won't need to go all the way to Belgium to get them! Most especially these delectable desserts.
Belgian Waffles
You've probably heard of Belgian waffles, haven't you? If you've heard of
Belgian chocolates, there's a good chance you've heard about the country's waffles too! But are they the crunchy kind that almost tastes like biscuits or are they the plump and soft kind that you can top with fruits, whipped cream, and even ice cream? Well, the truth of the matter is there are varying kinds of Belgian waffles. The two most popular are the
gaufres de Liège and the Brussels waffle. The former is caramelized brioche bread dough mixed with pearl sugar, making it the chewier and softer kind. The latter, on the other hand, is lighter, crispier, and known for its rectangular shape.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Mattentaart
Mattentaart is the kind of dessert that you can only make in Belgium. And it's protected by law, too! Though it's fairly easy to bake these round puff pastry cakes filled with curd cheese, its hometown of Geraardsbergen in the Flemish Ardennes was actually granted the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) by the EU back in 2006. What does this mean, exactly? It means that one can only make mattentaart in this city and nowhere else. By law, any pastry that might look and taste similar to it cannot be regarded as 'mattentaart' if it wasn't made here.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Sandra Fauconnier
La Dame Blanche
Judging by its name, you'd think this was some fancy dessert like Parisian macarons or crème brûlée, right? Well, '
La Dame Blanche' is actually far simpler than you think! This dessert is simply the Belgian version of a chocolate sundae. All you really need to make it is a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, some cherries to put on top, and bittersweet
sauce au chocolate. It's the bitterness of the latter that gives La Dame Blanche its European kick! That and the fact that it's often paired with dessert beer when served, making it a more adult-centric sundae than all the others!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Appelflap
Back to a treat that the little ones can also love, Appelflap. It's basically the Belgian equivalent of the apple turnover from England, a
traditional British holiday treat. In fact, just like its English counterpart, Appelflap has the kind of comfortable quality that you can eat and enjoy anywhere, be it in a crowded restaurant or your own
luxury home here. It's also fairly easy to make! All you need is some apple, puff pastry, cinnamon, almond paste, raisins, and/or currants. In terms of the best apples to use, those that are yellow-green will certainly bring out their citrusy goodness once they're baked!
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Rasbak
Stofé
And finally, there's Stofé! Now, what is Stofé? A kind of sweet yet rich cheesecake that came from Belgium’s French Wallonian region. In fact, in order to make it, you have to use cottage cheese that was produced from Walloon. You blend it with meringue and almonds and you pour it all over a bed of equally-sliced apples. Light and airy, the apples give it a fruitier flavor and a more citrusy kick. And thanks to its complex sweetness, it's become a go-to dessert for a feast whenever a
national holiday comes by!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
These Belgian desserts will have you craving for more at first bite! They also prove that there's more to Belgium's sweet side than their world-famous chocolates! And it's high time the rest of the world recognizes the culinary worth of this nation's cuisine.
