Dutch Spiced Breakfast Cake (Ontbijtkoek)
This Dutch dessert builds self-raising flour, dark brown soft sugar and milk into a weeknight-friendly meal you can have ready in about 60 minutes. Scroll down for the ingredient checklist, a serving scaler and unit converter, and the method broken into 7 steps.
You'll mainly reach for oven and saucepan. At medium difficulty across 7 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (1)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
Diet: vegetarian — no meat or fish, based on every ingredient listed below.
Contains: Gluten Dairy
Allergen labels are informational and may not cover cross-contact; verify every package and consult a qualified professional for medical dietary needs. Diet labels are derived from the ingredient list on this page — how we verify diet and allergen labels.
Food-safety and allergen information is general, not medical advice. Follow current guidance from your local food-safety authority, verify product labels, and seek qualified advice for allergies or health conditions.
How to make it
- Preheat the oven to 160˚C (320˚F) Line a cake pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Mix all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Place the milk in a small saucepan and heat it until it is almost boiling but not quite.
- Pour the milk slowly into the dry ingredients while whisking.
- Don't overmix!
- As soon as it is combined to a smooth batter you pour it into the cake pan.
- Sprinkle the pearl sugar over the top and bake it in the oven for about 1 hour.
- Check after about 50 minutes how the cake is progressing. If a cake tester comes out clean the cake it cooked. If not let it cook for a little longer.
You'll use: Oven · Saucepan · Pan · Whisk
Watch how it's made
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Ingredient substitutions
- Self-raising Flour
- 1 cup plain flour + 1½ tsp baking powder + ¼ tsp salt
- Milk
- any unsweetened plant milk · ½ cup evaporated milk + ½ cup water
What to serve with Dutch Spiced Breakfast Cake (Ontbijtkoek)
- Kapsalon Lamb
- Bitterballen (Dutch meatballs) Beef
- Stamppot Pork
- Snert (Dutch Split Pea Soup) Side
Tips & common questions
How long does Dutch Spiced Breakfast Cake (Ontbijtkoek) take to make?
About 60 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 7 steps and 8 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of self-raising flour?
Try 1 cup plain flour + 1½ tsp baking powder + ¼ tsp salt. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Dutch Spiced Breakfast Cake (Ontbijtkoek) vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat, fish or shellfish, so it is suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheese for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Structured source recipe — not yet independently kitchen-tested by Consomee. How we source, test & correct recipes.
Recipe data for Dutch Spiced Breakfast Cake (Ontbijtkoek) via TheMealDB (open database). ▶ Video. Original source. Consomee adds the scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure — how we source recipes.