koek

Koek is a Dutch term that refers to a broad family of baked sweet goods, spanning cookies and cakes. In the Netherlands and Flemish-speaking Belgium, koek can denote anything from a crisp biscuit to a dense loaf. The singular koek may refer to a single cake or large cookie, while koekjes is the standard word for individual cookies or small biscuits. The exact meaning often depends on regional usage and context.

Common varieties and familiar forms include ont b ijtkoek, a dense spiced loaf typically eaten sliced with butter for breakfast; peperkoek or speculaas, spiced biscuits associated with festive seasons; boterkoek, a rich, dense butter cake cut into wedges; krentenkoek, a currant loaf; and stroopkoek, a syrup cake. These items illustrate how koek covers both cake-like and biscuit-like textures, with regional specialties and family recipes shaping local versions.

In broader usage, the word is also found outside the Netherlands in Afrikaans, where koek simply means cake. This reflects historical language links and is visible in names such as koeksister, a popular fried sweet, and other dessert terms that use the same root. Across Dutch-speaking communities, koek is commonly enjoyed with coffee or tea and is a staple in home baking and pastry production, with regional flavors and traditions contributing to a varied repertoire.