The Melly's journal

Stories from the iron

Guides, history and a few opinions from our family bakery in the heart of Amsterdam. Everything you need to eat well in the city, starting with a warm stroopwafel.

Chocolinas chocolate biscuits, the base of an Argentine chocotorta

Recipe4 min read

Chocotorta: The Easy No-Bake Argentine Dessert

Three ingredients, no oven, fifteen minutes. The Argentine birthday-table classic, and where to find Chocolinas and dulce de leche in Amsterdam.

A 1kg pack of Playadito yerba mate ready to brew

Guide4 min read

How to Prepare Yerba Mate: A Beginner's Guide

Mate is easy once you know the steps. How to fill the gourd, pour the water and brew a proper mate at home.

Handmade chocolate alfajores in a Melly's tin

Guide4 min read

What Are Alfajores? Argentina's Favourite Cookie

Two soft cookies, a layer of dulce de leche, and a whole continent that loves them. A short guide to alfajores.

A jar of Havanna dulce de leche from Argentina

Guide4 min read

What Is Dulce de Leche? The Argentine Milk Caramel

Milk and sugar, cooked slow until golden. Meet dulce de leche, the caramel at the heart of Argentine baking.

A spread of freshly baked cookies at Melly's Cookiebar in Amsterdam

Amsterdam5 min read

Where to Find the Best Cookies in Amsterdam

Soft in the middle, baked all day. A local's guide to the best cookies in Amsterdam, and the flavours worth queueing for.

Argentine pantry products at Melly's Cookiebar in Amsterdam

Amsterdam5 min read

Where to Buy Argentine Products in Amsterdam

Missing the flavours of home, or curious to try them? Where to find Argentine pantry staples in the centre of Amsterdam.

A block of dulce de membrillo, Argentine quince paste, at Melly's Cookiebar Amsterdam

Guide4 min read

What Is Dulce de Membrillo? Argentine Quince Paste

Sweet, firm and ruby-red. Meet dulce de membrillo, the quince paste Argentines eat with cheese, and where to find it in Amsterdam.

Dulce de batata, one of the classic fillings for an Argentine pasta frola tart

Recipe5 min read

Pasta Frola: The Argentine Quince Tart Recipe

A buttery lattice crust and a sweet quince centre. The Argentine tart that lives on every cafe counter, made at home.

Alfajores de maicena filled with dulce de leche and rolled in coconut

Recipe5 min read

Alfajores de Maicena: The Cornstarch Alfajor Recipe

Delicate, crumbly and filled with dulce de leche. The cornstarch alfajor recipe, and where to find dulce de leche in Amsterdam.

A hand holding a candy-topped stroopwafel in front of a historic Amsterdam building

Guide5 min read

Stroopwafel vs Cookie: Which Amsterdam Treat Should You Try?

One is warm, chewy and Dutch to the core. The other is a buttery bakery classic. Here is how to pick, or have both.

An overhead spread of decorated stroopwafels with chocolate, candy and marshmallow toppings

Amsterdam7 min read

The Best Desserts in Amsterdam (From a Local Bakery)

Tourist traps are easy to find. Here are the desserts in Amsterdam that locals actually queue for, and where to taste the real thing.