A Delicious Dutch Autumn Treat: Anijskrollen! (aniseed Rolls)

Chances are, you've never heard of them, even if you live, or have lived, in the Netherlands: Anijskrollen!
Anijskrollen are whitebread rolls with aniseed, braided into a knot by hand, and a popular regional product in the east of Brabant, one of the southern Dutch provinces.

They are meant to be eaten with a layer of real butter, and speculaas biscuits. A real special treat!
Anijskrollen are a typical autumnal product, and can be found in Dutch bakeries and supermarkets between september and december. But you have to be lucky, they're not a common product that can be found in every supermarket or bakery in Brabant.
It is thought that the anijskrol finds its origin in Veghel, a town in Brabant, where they were already made in 1865.
Anijskrollen are not a very well known treat, just a small piece of Brabant is really familiar with them, mostly small places that surround Veghel.
That makes them one of the best kept secrets in Dutch cuisine, even for fellow Dutchies!



Have you gotten curious? 
Good! We've found you a recipe to make them yourself.

This is what you'll need:

300 grams of flour
200 grams of whole wheat meal
1 little bag/portion of yeast
1 teaspoon of crushed aniseed
1 teaspoon of whole aniseed
50 grams of real butter
50 grams of sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
300 milliliters of milk, at room temperature
a pinch of salt

Mix flour, sugar, cinnamon, aniseed and a pinch of salt. Knead this into a supple dough by adding the yeast , milk, butter and egg.
Knead for 10 minutes, then cover the dough and let it rest for an hour.
Knead the dough once more, and divide it into little balls.
Put the balls of dough on a greased baking tray with enough room in between for them to rise. Let them rest for another hour.
Pre-heat the oven at 225 degrees Celcius. Bake the rolls for 15 minutes, after that, let them cool down for a bit.

Anijskrollen are served with a layer of real butter, and speculaas biscuits.

Enjoy!

(courtesy of bakkersinbedrijf.nl debakkerslamers.nl & krollenloop.nl)

Tags: anijs, anijskrollen, aniseed, brood, bread, rolls, speculaas, speculoos, koek, cookies, biscuits, spices, Dutch, food, eten, lekker, herfst, autumn