Dutch carnival cake

The Dutch Carnival Cake

The Dutch Carnival Cake, also known as 'Carnival Cake' (Dutch: Kermiskoek), is traditionally a Dutch dessert that is similar to gingerbread cake. The traditional recipe include a variety of ingredients, among which are freshly harvested rye flour and honey from the Betuwe region. The cake is additionally enriched with rock candy.

History

Back in 1871 Jan ter Gouw already described the Carnival Cake in his book Folk Amusement (Volksvermaken).[1] From this book the following song originated:

“Jan, just buy me a Cake! Pretty girl, I've got no money”

Historically, the Dutch Carnival Cake was made solely in October for the autumn carnival of Tiel. It used to be given as a wedding proposal present, in which a farmer's son would gift a Carnival Cake to his partner. If the girl gave him a slice of the cake on the eighth or fourteenth day after the proposal, they would get engaged. If she did not offer a slice of the cake, it meant that she declined his proposal. Nowadays the offering of 'the lovecake' is not a proposal anymore, but a token of love and appreciation between partners, family and friends.

There is still a Dutch bakery that produces the Carnival Cake, and so the tradition is being continued.

Recognition

The Carnival Cake has a rich tradition, which sunk into oblivion over time. However, because the Carnival Cake was adopted in the list of the Centre for Folklife and Cultural Heritage[2] - a countrywide organization similar to UNESCO - the tradition can be maintained. Since this tradition was adopted, the original Dutch Carnival cake is procurable all year long.

See also

References

  1. ↑ De volksvermaken, third chapter, "Kermis"
  2. ↑ DBNL. "Derde hoofdstuk. Kermis., De volksvermaken, Jan ter Gouw". DBNL (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-12-06.


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