Easy Homemade Krakelingen: Authentic Dutch Sweet Pretzel Cookies Recipe
Imagine this: the doorbell rings, and you have unexpected guests! Instead of panicking, imagine delighting them with a batch of freshly baked, incredibly delicious Dutch sweet pretzel cookies, known as Krakelingen. These delightful treats are not only quick and easy to make, but their crunchy, sweet layers of puff pastry are truly irresistible. They’re the perfect impromptu indulgence, promising warmth and deliciousness with minimal effort. Get ready to impress with this simple yet sophisticated recipe that brings a touch of Dutch charm to your kitchen.
Krakelingen: A Beloved Dutch Treat
A perfectly baked Krakeling offers a truly enchanting experience. Each bite delivers a crispy, crunchy sensation as you slowly break through the airy, flaky layers of golden puff pastry. What follows is the subtle joy of sweet sugar crystals gently melting in your mouth, creating a harmonious blend of textures and flavors. These Dutch sweet pretzel cookies are, without a doubt, one of my absolute favorite homemade treats. Their elegance belies their simplicity, making them ideal for any occasion, especially when you need a quick, impressive dessert.
The beauty of baking Krakelingen lies in their astonishing speed and minimal fuss. With just five simple ingredients and a short preparation time, you can go from craving to serving these delectable sweet pretzels in under 30 minutes. This makes them an ultimate go-to recipe for busy weeknights, last-minute gatherings, or simply when you desire a freshly baked treat without the lengthy commitment. Truly, baking these delightful puff pastry cookies couldn’t be easier.
To preserve their signature crispness, it’s crucial to store your freshly baked Krakelingen in an airtight container immediately after they have cooled completely. Puff pastry, by its nature, can quickly absorb moisture from the air and lose its flaky texture if left exposed. For the absolute best experience, however, nothing beats the warmth and crunch of a Krakeling straight from the oven. Baking them fresh for your guests ensures they enjoy these Dutch pretzel cookies at their peak perfection.
If your passion for baking cookies runs deep, be sure to explore my extensive collection of easy cookie recipes. You’ll discover other simple yet delightful options, such as refreshing lemon cookies (another incredibly straightforward bake!), the richly decadent world peace cookies, and the delightful chewy crunch of walnut caramel cookies. Each recipe is designed to bring joy and deliciousness to your kitchen with ease.
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Dutch Sweet Pretzel Cookies
Crafting these delectable Krakelingen requires only a handful of readily available ingredients. Simplicity is key to this traditional Dutch recipe, allowing the quality of each component to shine through. You’ll find the precise measurements detailed in the comprehensive recipe card located at the very bottom of this blog post. For now, let’s explore why each ingredient is crucial to achieving that perfect crunchy, sweet pretzel cookie.
- Puff Pastry: This is the star of the show, forming the light and airy base of your Krakelingen. For the most luxurious flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture, opt for butter puff pastry. It provides a richness and flakiness that cannot be beaten. You’ll need four sheets, each approximately 4 x 4 inches (10 x 10 cm). If you’re using puff pastry on a roll, simply cut it to these dimensions. Ensure it’s thawed according to package instructions before use.
- Egg Yolk: The egg yolk serves a dual purpose in this recipe. When brushed onto the top of the cookies, it acts as a binder, ensuring the sugar and cinnamon topping adheres beautifully. More importantly, it helps create that gorgeous golden-yellow, glossy finish that makes Krakelingen so visually appealing and delicious.
- Cream: A touch of cream mixed with the egg yolk creates an even richer, more luscious wash for the puff pastry. This not only enhances the golden color but also contributes to a slightly creamy, tender top layer, contrasting wonderfully with the crisp pastry beneath. Any type of cream (heavy, whipping, or even half-and-half) will work, but a richer cream will yield a slightly more decadent result.
- Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon adds a warm, inviting aroma and a sweet, subtly woody flavor with delightful hints of citrus. It pairs perfectly with the sugar to create a classic, comforting topping that elevates the simple puff pastry into a truly special cookie. Freshly ground cinnamon will offer the most intense flavor.
- Demerara Sugar: This coarse, amber-colored sugar is essential for the characteristic texture and flavor of Krakelingen. Its larger crystals don’t melt as quickly as granulated sugar, providing a fantastic crunch and a lovely, sparkling appearance. Demerara sugar also has a unique, slightly fruity and peppery taste that complements the cinnamon beautifully. If demerara sugar is unavailable, you can substitute it with granulated sugar or light brown cane sugar, though the texture will be slightly different.
Tips for Ingredient Selection
To ensure your Dutch sweet pretzel cookies are truly exceptional, consider these tips:
- Quality Puff Pastry: While any puff pastry will work, a good quality all-butter puff pastry makes a noticeable difference in flavor and flakiness. Look for brands that list butter as the primary fat.
- Freshness: Always use fresh eggs and cream for the best results.
- Spice Matters: Fresh cinnamon has a much more vibrant flavor. If your cinnamon has been sitting in the pantry for a while, it might be worth refreshing your stock.
How to Prepare This Easy Dutch Pastry Cookies Recipe
Baking these Krakelingen is a straightforward process, perfect for bakers of all skill levels. The steps are simple, quick, and yield impressive results. Below, you’ll find a printable recipe card with a detailed, step-by-step description to guide you through making these delightful Dutch sweet pretzel cookies. Let’s walk through the process together.
- Prepare the Puff Pastry: Start by preheating your oven to 350 °F (180 °C) for a conventional oven or 320 °F (160 °C) for a convection oven. Place the four thawed sheets of puff pastry, each measuring approximately 4 x 4 inches (10 x 10 cm), neatly on top of each other. This layering is crucial for creating thicker, more substantial pretzels. Using a rolling pin, carefully roll them out into a larger, single sheet measuring roughly 8 x 8 inches (20 x 20 cm). This ensures an even thickness and enough surface area for shaping.
- Cut into Strips: With a sharp knife or, even better, a pizza cutter for precise, clean lines, cut the rolled-out puff pastry into thick strips. Aim for strips about ¾ inch (1.5 cm) wide. The consistency of the strip width will help ensure even baking and a uniform appearance for your pretzel cookies.
- Shape the Pretzels: Take one strip of puff pastry and lay it flat in front of you. Gently fold one end of the strip towards the center. Then, take the other end and fold it towards the center as well, overlapping slightly to create the classic pretzel shape. This iconic loop is what gives Krakelingen their charming appeal. Repeat this process for all the remaining strips, arranging them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spaced about 1 inch (2 cm) apart to allow for expansion during baking.
- Egg Wash and Sugar Topping: In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and cream until well combined. This mixture forms your lustrous egg wash. Using a pastry brush, lightly but thoroughly brush the top surface of each shaped pretzel with this egg wash. This will help them turn golden brown and allow the sugar topping to adhere. Next, in a separate small bowl, combine the demerara sugar with the ground cinnamon. Generously sprinkle this fragrant sugar-cinnamon mixture over the brushed pretzels. The demerara sugar crystals will provide a wonderful sparkle and satisfying crunch.
- Bake to Perfection: Place the baking sheets with your prepared Krakelingen into the preheated oven. Bake for approximately 25 minutes, or until the sweet pretzel cookies are beautifully golden brown and appear puffed and crispy. Keep an eye on them during the last few minutes to prevent over-browning. Once baked, remove them from the oven and let them cool slightly on the baking sheets before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy these delectable Dutch sweet pretzel cookies fresh for the best taste and texture!
Did you make this delicious recipe for Krakelingen? We would absolutely love to see your culinary creations! Tag #byandreajanssen via Instagram! I genuinely enjoy seeing what your homemade sweet pretzel cookies look like and regularly share the most beautiful photos from our community! Did you thoroughly enjoy this recipe? Then please consider leaving a rating on the recipe card below! Your valuable feedback is incredibly helpful, not only to me but also to other home cooks who are looking for their next delicious baking adventure.
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📖 Recipe
RECIPE CARD
Andréa
Pin Recipe
Equipment
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A conventional oven is used. When using a convection oven (with air fan) decrease the temperature with 30 °F / 20 °C
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Parchment paper
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Baking tray
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Pastry brush
Ingredients
- 4 sheets puff pastry, thawed, 4 x 4 inches, 10 x 10 cm
- 1 egg yolk
- 3 tablespoons cream
- â…“ cup demerara sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350 °F or 320 °F.
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Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
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Place the four sheets of puff pastry on top of each other.4 sheets puff pastry
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With a rolling pin, roll out the dough into a square of 8 x 8 inches (20 x 20 cm).
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Cut the dough into strips about ¾ inch (1.5 cm) thick. This works well with a pizza cutter if you have one.
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Place a strip before you and fold the first end towards the center. Then, repeat for the other end.
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Place the pretzels on a baking tray. Keep them about 1 inch (2 cm) apart.
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Mix the cream with the egg yolk and brush the top of the pretzels with it.1 egg yolk, 3 tablespoons cream
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Mix the sugar with the cinnamon and sprinkle it over the pretzels.â…“ cup demerara sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
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Bake the pretzels in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
Notes
2. Demerara sugar – You can replace it with granulated sugar or cane sugar.
3. Oven – When you use a conventional oven, set the temperature to 350 °F (180 °C). In a convection oven, 320 °F (160 °C) is sufficient.
4. Storage
Pretzels are best eaten fresh.
- Room temperature – You can keep the pretzels for up to 3 days if you pack them airtight. They will become a little softer.
5. The nutritional value shown is per Dutch Krakeling,
Nutrition
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