Brugse mokken

Brugse mokken are traditional cookies from Bruges, Belgium, with a rich history and a unique preparation method. They have been made according to a recipe dating back to 1880, attributed to Stefanie Vervarcke, the founder of the pharmacy bakery now known as Oud Huis Deman. These round cookies are made using wheat flour, rye flour, cinnamon, salt, rock sugar, butter, margarine, spices, and bicarbonate as a raising agent. The combination of these ingredients gives the cookies a distinctive flavor and texture, characterized by their spiciness and the crunch from the rock sugar. The etymology of the name is not entirely clear. One theory suggests that "mokken" refers to the Bruges word for "young girl." Another possibility is that it comes from the French word "motte," meaning "clod" or "lump," possibly referring to a lump of butter used in the cookies.