Lukken
{{short description|Traditional dessert waffle from West Flanders}}
{{other uses|Luken (disambiguation){{!}}Luken}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Infobox food
| name = {{lang|nl|Lukken}}
| image =
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| caption =
| alternate_name = Butter waffles
| country = West Flanders
| creator =
| course =
| type = Waffle
| served =
| main_ingredient = Flour, butter, eggs, sugar, salt, cognac (or rum, or water)
| variations =
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}}
{{lang|nl|Lukken}} are thin dessert waffles, traditionally made in West Flanders to celebrate the New Year and other feasts.{{cite news |last1=Dansby |first1=Angela |title=The Belgian waffle that brings New Year's luck |url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20231226-the-belgian-waffle-that-brings-new-years-luck |access-date=14 January 2025 |work=BBC |date=26 December 2023}}{{cite book |last1=Ysewijn |first1=Regula |title=Dark Rye and Honey Cake: Festival Baking from Belgium, the Heart of the Low Countries |date=2023 |publisher=Weldon Owen International |isbn=978-1681888552 |pages=51–52}} {{lang|nl|Lukken}} are made with more sugar than other traditional waffles, and since sugar was historically a luxury good, {{lang|nl|lukken}} were associated with the nobility and with celebrations. Jules Destrooper popularized a version of {{lang|nl|lukken}} called "butter waffles".
Description
Etymology
The term {{lang|nl|lukken}} is derived from the Dutch word for luck, geluk. Traditionally, on New Year's Day, children would congratulate (luk) their godparents by offering {{lang|nl|lukken}}.{{cite web |title=Burgundian wafer irons |url=https://www.museabrugge.be/en/collections/kunst-werk/17-bourgondische-wafelijzers |website=Musea Brugge |access-date=15 January 2025 |language=en}} The baking of lukken became idiomatic for something that could be done quickly and simply, as in the Flemish expression Het gaat lijk lukken bakken ("it goes like baking {{lang|nl|lukken}}").
In Belgium, {{lang|nl|lukken}} are sometimes called {{lang|nl|nieuwjaarswafeltjes}}, meaning "New Year waffles".{{cite news |last1=K. D. |title=Speaking of 'Lukken' |url=https://flemishlibrary.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=lukken&i=f&d=01011916-12312018&m=between&ord=k1&fn=gazette_van_detroit_usa_michigan_detroit_19811231_english_3&df=1&dt=10&cid=3238 |access-date=15 January 2025 |work=Gazette van Detroit |pages=3}}{{cite news |title=Hey, Good Lukken |url=https://flemishlibrary.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=lukken&i=f&d=01011916-12312018&m=between&ord=k1&fn=gazette_van_detroit_usa_michigan_detroit_20100121_english_6&df=1&dt=10&cid=3238 |access-date=15 January 2025 |work=Gazette van Detroit |date=21 January 2010 |pages=6}} In the Netherlands, {{lang|nl|lukken}} goes by names such as ijzerkoekjes and {{lang|nl|niepertjes}}.
History
Traditionally, {{lang|nl|lukken}} were produced on special "luk irons" (lukijzers) that sometimes became family heirlooms.{{cite news |last1=K. D. |title=Of 'Lukken' and 'Lukijzers' |url=https://flemishlibrary.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=lukken&i=f&d=01011916-12312018&m=between&ord=k1&fn=gazette_van_detroit_usa_michigan_detroit_19881208_english_2&df=1&dt=10&cid=3238 |access-date=15 January 2025 |work=Gazette van Detroit |issue=8 December 1988 |pages=2}} A museum in Bruges came into possession of one such iron, dating from the 18th century, and bearing the phrase {{lang|nl|Ik wens u een zalig nieuwjaer}} ("I wish you a happy New Year").
When electric waffle irons were introduced, the time to bake a single {{lang|nl|lukken}} could be reduced from 3 minutes to 30 seconds.{{cite news |last1=Geldhof |first1=Al |title=The Lukken Lady |url=https://flemishlibrary.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=lukken&i=f&d=01011916-12312018&m=between&ord=k1&fn=gazette_van_detroit_usa_michigan_detroit_20030123_english_6&df=1&dt=10&cid=3238 |access-date=15 January 2025 |work=Gazette van Detroit |issue=23 January 2003 |pages=6}} The Gazette van Detroit, a newspaper for Belgian Americans, often advertized the sale of {{lang|nl|lukken}} irons around the holidays.
Jules Destrooper popularized a version of {{lang|nl|lukken}} called "butter waffles".