Everything about spice cake
Your tasty source of energy
For over more than 150 years, Vondelmolen has grown into the largest spice cake baker in Belgium. We primarily use natural ingredients to make our spice cake. Our spice cake contains fast and slow sugars, which give you energy immediately and over a longer period of time. Ideal when you could use a bit of a boost. This is what we call the delicious power of nature.
Five benefits of spice cake
We go to great lengths every day to make the best spice cake that fits perfectly into a balanced diet:
- Spice cake contains fast and slow sugars that give you an energy boost when you need it.
- Spice cake is a source of fibre, which ensures good digestion and makes you feel satisfied when you have finished eating. Fibre also reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and colon cancer.
- Spice cake is a natural product consisting of rye flour, liquid sugar and/or honey and spices. No more than that.
- Spice cake contains rye, which is good for your blood sugar and your intestines. It promotes digestion and prevents constipation.
- Spice cake is low in fat and cholesterol, because we do not add any fat or eggs. The small amount of (vegetable) fat in it comes from the rye flour and greasing the baking trays.
Do you exercise regularly or do you just need a bit of a boost?
Then Vondelmolen spice cake is your tasty source of positive energy!
Spice cake from ancient times to the present
The story of Vondelmolen started in 1867; however, spice cake has been a source of energy and pleasure for centuries. Join us on a journey back in time and discover the history of our special spice cake.
Ancient times
The first traces of spice cake can be found among the Ancient Egyptians and Greeks, who made spice cake from grains, spices and honey. The Romans refined the recipe with pepper and dried fruit.
11th and 12th centuries
The European Crusaders brought the honey cake back with them from their journeys to Jerusalem and the monasteries began to make the delicacy themselves. They added an exclusive ingredient: pepper. Hence the name ‘peperkoek’ in Dutch.
Early 13th century
The mighty Mongol empire of Genghis Khan made a nourishing cake with honey and spices for their soldiers: Mi-kong. This honey cake gave the warriors enough energy to stay on the road for a long time.
After the 13th century
Spice cake became popular in Flanders and from there also in the rest of Europe. Guilds were formed which baked different kinds of spice cake. Ghent in particular was known for its spice cake with candied orange peel and almonds.
Up to World War II
Up to the Second World War, Flanders had about 140 traditional spice cake bakeries. But gradually the small producers disappeared and only the large-scale bakers in the towns and cities were left.
After World War II
Today, Flanders has only two producers, with Vondelmolen being the larger. Our mission is to make the most delicious spice cake on a larger scale, while preserving the tradition, taste and quality of our natural products.