What is a mikkeman?
Once a year, on December 5th, Sinterklaas visits The Netherlands. He brings lots of presents, cookies and candy with him. One particular sort of cookie is speculaas. In the old days, not everyone was able to afford speculaas, and that’s why the Dutch baker “Mikkers” invented the “mikkeman”. It is a kind of bread that tastes like speculaas, but it is not as expensive. This way, even poor families were able to enjoy the taste of speculaas.
It is a very regional product, as it is only known in Kaatsheuvel and surroundings.
And I happen to like them. It’s a pity they only sell them around Sinterklaas and it’s certainly a pity that they’ve never heard of mikkemannen near Utrecht (where I live now).
If anyone happens to have a decent recipe to make my own mikkemannen, please leave me a message and I’d be very grateful.
