Efteling, the fairytale theme park in the south of Holland, is sharing recipes for its most popular treats for families to try at home.

• Crooked Foam Cake
• Apple Bellies
• Royal Coconut Macaroons

During global lockdown, a time that can elevate stress and anxiety, people have found a new love for baking. Research shows that the opportunity to be creative with baking, through mixing different ingredients and colours, allows individuals to express themselves and focus the mind. In line with this, Dr Mary McNoughton, a clinical psychologist and professor of Psychology at the University of Texas, states that baking 'feels familiar and can even lead to a mindful state'.

In normal times, Efteling - the fairytale theme park in the south of Holland - is the perfect destination to reunite families, where a diverse range of attractions suit all ages and interests. In between the roller coasters, gentler water rides, fairytale scenes and live shows, families can catch up at Efteling's diverse cafés and restaurants that showcase the best of Dutch cuisine.

Whilst the park gates are closed, Efteling continues to bring families together, who can replicate part of the Efteling experience at home with these delicious recipes from the Polles Taarten Boek. Gather the ingredients, grab your aprons, and get baking!

Crooked Foam Cake

Ingredients (for six servings):

• 2 sachets of vanilla sugar
• 180g fine granulated sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 tsp vinegar
• 250ml of whipped cream
• 1 tbsp white caster sugar
• 250g strawberries 

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 175 °C. Stir the vanilla sugar and granulated sugar together. Mix the eggs in a mixer on a high setting until they are white in colour and have doubled in volume.
2. Continue mixing on a lower setting. Scoop one large tablespoon of the sugar mixture into the bowl of egg white. Wait until the sugar is well absorbed before adding the next spoon.  Add all the sugar and continue to mix until the foam is firm. Carefully add the vinegar.
3. Spoon the mixture onto baking paper on a baking tray. Make it into a mountain shape. Then make a hole in the centre with the back of a spoon.
4. Turn the oven temperature back to 150 °C. Bake the meringue for 1 hour.
5. Turn the oven off and let the meringue sit for another hour. Once it has completely cooled, carefully remove it from the baking paper and place it on a platter.
6. Beat the cream with the brown sugar. Spoon the whipped cream into the hole in the centre of the meringue. Cut the strawberries into pieces and place them on the whipped cream. You can also sprinkle powdered sugar over it. Enjoy!

Royal Coconut Macaroons

Ingredients (makes 4 macaroons):

• 2 eggs
• 2 tbsp honey (or maple syrup for a darker colour)
• 80g grated coconut 

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 160 °C. Split the eggs, putting the egg whites in a bowl and discarding the yolks. Beat the egg whites in a mixer on medium speed for 4 minutes until foamy and firm. Add the honey and mix for 1 minute until the foam shines nicely.
2. Add the coconut carefully with a spoon and continue to mix well. Separate the mixture into four round mountains with a spoon.
3. Bake the macaroons in the middle of the oven for 15 minutes or until lightly coloured. Remove them from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes.

Apple Bellies

Ingredients (makes 12 pies):

• butter (for greasing)
• 12 slices of frozen puff pastry 
• 2 large apples (about 300g)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 60g of fine granulated sugar 
• 60g raisins 
• 15g breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• tbsp light brown caster sugar 

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 200 °C. Grease a cupcake tin with some butter. Remove the plastic film from the puff pastry and defrost the slices side by side on a sheet of baking paper for a few minutes.
2. Cut the apple into small pieces and place them in a bowl with the cinnamon, sugar, raisins, and breadcrumbs. Mix the filling well.
3. Cut a circle from each slice of puff pastry with a cookie cutter. Keep the rest of the puff pastry to one side. Place the circles in the moulds of the tin and press the bottom and sides down a little.
4. Fill each mould with a large tablespoon of filling. With the remaining puff pastry, cut 60 of approximately 1cm x 6 cm (five strips per cake). Place three strips vertically over the filling with a little space between them, and the other two horizontally over them. Press the ends to the side so that they stay nicely within the shape.
5. Beat the egg in a bowl with a fork and the brush over the strips of puff pastry until they shine. Finally sprinkle over the brown sugar.
6. Bake the tarts for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Let them cool a little and remove them from the baking tin by gently turning it upside down. Stand them upright and let them cool.

For more information on Efteling, visit: www.efteling.com

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About Efteling:

Since the opening in 1952, more than 130 million visitors have experienced an unforgettable day at Efteling, in the south of Holland. Over the years, Efteling has grown to become one of Europe's biggest theme parks, with a unique fairytale atmosphere, natural surroundings and a wide range of thrilling attractions. It is now ranked in the top 25 theme parks in the world, according to the Tea Theme Index 2018. Efteling is open all year round and is an ideal family short-break destination with the Efteling Hotel and the holiday villages Efteling Bosrijk and Efteling Loonsche Land just a stone's throw away. Through a programme of phased growth, Efteling became an international destination with five million visitors per year.

For further information please visit: www.efteling.com/en

Media enquiries Efteling:

Efteling is represented by Lotus in the UK. Please contact Jules Ugo, Georgina Oakley or Ellena Jackson at jules@wearelotus.co.uk / georgina@wearelotus.co.uk / ellena@wearelotus.co.uk or call the office on 0207 953 7470.

For all Efteling press releases and images please visit: www.efteling.com/en/press/