Oliebol

Oliebol is a traditional and Belgian snack that can be literally translated as oily ball. The dough, which is deep-fried in hot oil, is made with flour, eggs, yeast, milk, and baking powder. The exterior is crunchy, while the interior is chewy and soft, just like a true representative of comfort food at its best. Traditionally, the fritters are sprinkled with powdered sugar, while some varieties are filled with raisins or currants that were previously incorporated into the dough. Oliebollen are often prepared and consumed at numerous fairs, and they are especially popular during the Christmas and New Year period. In winter, these oily snacks can be bought at street stands throughout the Netherlands and Belgium. It is believed that oliebollen were first consumed by Germanic tribes during the Yule. The earliest recipe can be found in the 1667 book De verstandige kock, and in 1868 the word oliebol was added to Van Dale's Dutch dictionary. It is recommended to serve oliebollen with a hot cup of coffee and top them with powdered sugar before eating.