Dutch Hangop Recipe With Warm Cherry Compote

Dutch Hangop is a deliciously thick and creamy dessert that is made by straining yoghurt. This yogurt dessert recipe is very popular here in the Netherlands and it is pretty versatile because it can be dressed up with many different toppings such as fruit, nuts, and honey.

In addition to being a great dessert, it also makes a good nutritious breakfast. Just throw in a little muesli, drizzle a little honey, and top it with some fresh fruit – this is really delicious!

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This is a dessert that I have really grown to love after moving here to the Netherlands.  The name “Hangop” literally means to “hang up”. This is just one of many different types of foods that you will find in Dutch cuisine. You can read more about other traditional and popular Dutch foods over on Wikipedia and see my other recipes from the Netherlands <<< here.

It’s pretty simple to make and is even good enough to serve when you have guests over for dinner.

What Is Dutch Hangop?

To make it, yoghurt or buttermilk is strained for hours until a sort of thick and creamy curd is left behind.

The recipe (if you can call it that) that I am sharing today is a basic Dutch Hangop Recipe served with a simple Warm Cherry Compote. 

If you don’t like cherries or prefer other flavours feel free to change it up and experiment with different toppings.  Have a play around! 

I also like to use store cupboard items such as tinned fruit. Spiced apples and are another good topping idea (I like this easy recipe on the BBC website for warm cinnamon apples.

Quick Recipe Guide

Dutch Yogurt Dessert Recipe Ingredients

• 1 liter (4 cups) of plain yogurt
• 240 ml (1 cup) whipping cream
• 4 tbsp caster sugar
• 1 vanilla bean pod

Dutch Yogurt Dessert Instructions

• Line a sieve with a clean wet piece of cheesecloth or tea towel and rest it on top of a large bowl
• Pour the yogurt into the lined sieve
• Leave overnight to drain
• Add cream, sugar, and seeds from the vanilla pod into a separate bowl
• Whisk the ingredients together until they begin to stiffen
• Gently fold the whipped cream mixture into the yogurt

Warm Cherry Compote Recipe

• 1 tin of cherries
• 2 tbsp caster sugar
• 1 tbsp cornflour
• 1 half of a lemon

Warm Cherry Compote Instructions

• Add cherries, sugar, and lemon juice to a saucepan
• Warm up until it the consistency becomes
• If not thick enough add a little cornflour to thicken it up (see tip below for full instructions)

Serving Suggestions For Yoghurt Dessert

Here are some more ideas if you would prefer to serve this yogurt dessert with alternative toppings.

• Fresh Pineapple (or tinned is fine too)
• Strawberries with strawberry sauce
• Fresh fruit salad
• Caramelised apples
• Spiced apples or pears
• Muesli and honey
• Walnut and caramel sauce
• Dried fruit and nuts
• Meringue and fresh strawberries

The list is endless for this easy and versatile Dutch pudding.

Detailed Recipe Guide + Printing Option

Dutch Hangop With Warm Cherry Compote

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Dutch

Keyword: dutch dessert, hangop, yoghurt recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

8 hours hours

Total Time: 8 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 350kcal

Author: Sam Franklin

Cost: €6

This is the easiest Dutch dessert recipe ever.  You just have to make sure you allow enough time for the yoghurt or buttermilk to drain.  I generally try to think ahead and leave mine overnight which gives you a super thick and creamy curd.

Print Recipe

Equipment

• 1 Large Mixing Bowl
• 1 Large sieve
• 1 Piece of cheesecloth (or a clean tea towel)
• 1 Saucepan

Ingredients

Ingredients To Make The Hangop

• 1 litre Plain Yoghurt (4 cups)
• 240 ml Whipping Cream (1 cup)
• 4 tbsp Caster Sugar
• 1 Vanilla Bean Pod

Ingredients To Make The Cherry Compote

• 1 tin Cherries
• 2 tbsp Caster Sugar
• 1 tbsp Corn Flour
• ½ Lemon

Instructions

Dutch Hangop Instructions

• Rinse a clean tea towel under the tap, wring it out and lay the damp cloth over a sieve or colander.   
  
• lace sieve or colander over a deep bowl.  Make sure that you allow enough space underneath the sieve so that the liquid can drain properly.
• Pour the yoghurt into the covered sieve.  Use an upturned bowl or a piece of tin foil to cover the yoghurt and place in it the fridge.
  
• Leave the yoghurt to drain for at least 8 hours (preferably overnight).
• When the yoghurt is ready and has finished draining transfer it into a large clean bowl.
  
• Slice the vanilla bean pod open and use the tip of a sharp knife and scrape out the seeds into the yoghurt.
• In a separate clean bowl, combine the cream and the sugar and whip until the mixture begins to stiffen.
• Then fold the whipped cream mixture into the yoghurt.

Warm Cherry Compote Instructions

• Put the cherries, sugar into a saucepan and the juice from the ½ lemon.
• Heat the cherries until they start to look syrupy (approx 10 minutes). 
• If you find that the mixture looks too runny add a little cornflour to thicken (*tip* to avoid lumps put it first into a separate cup with a little of the liquid from the cherries and mix into a paste then add it to the rest of the cherries in the saucepan).
• Once the cherry compote is the right consistency, remove from the heat.

Nutrition

Calories: 350kcal

See I told you this yogurt recipe was easy!  If you do have a go at making this let me know what you think and which topping you decided to go with – I’d really love to get some more ideas and hear some feedback 🙂

Other Dutch Recipe Ideas

If you liked this Dutch Hangop Recipe, then you should also check out the other Traditional Dutch Recipes that I have learned to make since having moved here to the Netherlands.

Dutch Apple Pie (aka appeltaart – this is the best recipe ever!), Traditional Pepernoten (mini spice cookies – these are great for kids to make!),  my Endive & Egg Salad recipe (a fresh and crunchy chicory salad – perfect for the summer!), and Fun Kids Food Ideas For Koningsdag (Kings Day).

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