Being Dutch myself, you'll see some typical Dutch recipes on this website. Let's start with this classic Dutch recipe for Boerenjongens.
What are Boerenjongens?
Boerenjongens (literal translation: Farmboys) are raisins soaked in alcohol. They are a regional dish best known in the Dutch provinces of Groningen and Friesland. At parties, they are traditionally served in a small glass to be spooned up as is. This dish is best known to the elderly generations. I haven't seen many youngsters sitting with a glass of Boerenjongens on their lap! It's also a dish that was traditionally served at weddings.
Boerenjongens are also a great topping for pancakes, ice cream, an old-fashioned pudding or vanilla custard, and they can be used as a filling in cakes or as an addition to a cheese board.
Boerenjongens ingredients
You will need the following:
Raisins - the base of the recipe. You can use golden raisins (Sultanas) or a combination of golden and dark raisins.
Alcohol - traditionally, brandy is used for this recipe, but you can replace it with another neutral alcoholic drink like vodka. Rum is also delicious!
Sugar - helps preserve the drink and, of course, makes it nice and sweet! Brown caster sugar is the best option in terms of taste and color.
Flavorings - to give the boerenjongens a unique flavor, I love to add a dash of vanilla extract, some cinnamon, cloves, and star anise to the mixture.
How to make boerenjongens
Making boerenjongens is super easy! Boil water and sugar to create a simple syrup, and let the raisins-including flavorings-soak in the syrup for a day. This way, the raisins absorb the flavors, and soaking them makes them thicker and more moist.
Then, add the alcohol to the mixture and store in a tightly sealed jar. The hardest part starts now: to properly flavor the boerenjongens you let them stand for at least two months!
How long can you store the raisins?
Boerenjongens can be stored for a very long time. Just make sure you use a clean, tightly sealed jar or bottle.
Because the recipe contains two excellent preservatives-alcohol and sugar-the raisins will keep for a long time. I have had them in the cupboard for over a year, and they are still fine.
Boerenmeisjes
There is also a female version of this recipe: boerenmeisjes (brandied apricots). They are amazing!
Frequently asked questions
Short answer: no. You really need sugar to give the raisins their typical, rich and sweet flavor.
It won't be a traditional version of the dish, but it's possible to create a copycat recipe in case you'd like to serve the raisins to kids and youngsters <21. Soak the raisins in hot tea or apple juice with some vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, and star anise.
You can experiment with different kinds of alcohol. Rum can bring a very nice kick to the dish. A honey-flavored liquor will also work well. I love vanilla, cloves, cinnamon and star anise, but you can also experiment with lemon peel, orange peel, honey...
More Dutch recipes
Fan of the Dutch cuisine? Being from the Netherlands myself, I plan to share a fair amount of Dutch recipes on the blog!
Boerenjongens
Equipment
- airtight jar
- cooking pan
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup golden raisins
- ⅝ cup water
- ⅝ cup dark brown sugar
- 1 ½ cup brandy
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 cloves
- 1 star anise
Instructions
- Bring the water and sugar to a boil and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Remove the pan from the heat. Add the raisins, vanilla extract, cinnamon stick, cloves, and star anise. Let this mixture stand for 24 hours.
- Pour in the brandy and stir well, then add them to an airtight jar. Make sure the raisins are covered, otherwise add some more brandy.
- Allow the boerenjongens to develop flavor in a dark place for at least two months. Stir regularly.
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