The best oliebollen in Groningen

Oliebollen Test Groningen, Our Search for the Best Oliebollen in Groningen

Well, it was quite the task, but we visited at least 10 oliebollen stalls in Groningen, starting somewhere in October. Quite a challenge! I was with my friend Hanna, but we were also joined by colleagues, family, and friends. It was so much fun! That’s when I realized that I live in a prime location (Noorderplantsoen) for visiting oliebollen stalls in the city of Groningen. Within a 10-minute bike ride, I could easily visit the majority of the stalls. Quite crazy, right?!

Important note: We always bought 3 natural oliebollen and 3 with currants/raisins.

1. Akkerman Paddepoel €7.80

+ Rather large oliebollen
+ Currants/raisins were super fluffy, incredibly delicious
- A bit too "doughy", especially the natural one
 

2. Oliebollenkraam Meijer at Ossenmarkt €7.20

+ Absolutely not greasy, rather dry but not unpleasant
+ Flavorful, not heavy on the stomach, you could keep eating them
- Overcooked, pointed protrusions
- The oliebollen were a bit small (it's never perfect, right?)

3. Oliebollenkraam at Praxis Damsterdiep €7.20

+ Nice resilient oliebollen
+ Not too greasy
- Currants didn’t mix well in the dough
- A bit bitter, I couldn’t finish the currant one.

Midpoint, a moment of reflection

Okay, I’m at the point now where I can say that at the moment, Meijer's natural oliebollen are the best, and after that, the currant/raisin oliebollen from Paddepoel, but we’re still FAR from done!

4. Oliebollenkraam at Selwerd €7.20 
 

Unfortunately, I couldn’t finish this oliebollen test, but my friend Hanna did, so maybe it was just me. They were a bit too greasy and lacked flavor. It’s a shame, maybe we had already eaten too many oliebollen by then.
- Not tasty

5. Oliebollenkraam Grote Markt €6.90
 

I didn’t expect these to be the cheapest oliebollen, because it’s quite a prime location at Grote Markt. My colleague had told me such great stories about them, so we had high expectations!
+ Beautiful golden yellow, resilient honeycomb structure inside
+ Delicious currant/raisin oliebollen in perfect balance and flavorful
- Maybe a bit too moist, undercooked, especially the natural ones

6. Oliebollenkraam Westerhaven €7.50
 

Okay, I once came here for nothing, and I was quite sad. I had worked too long and arrived at 18:10, but the stall closes at 18:00.
Unfortunately… The next day, I went on time and decided to literally test my colleagues with the oliebollen from Westerhaven.
+ Nice round and golden yellow, not too greasy.
+/- Opinions were a bit divided, we all liked the currant ones the best. They could’ve had a bit more flavor. Maybe more salt or something? No idea ;-)
- A bit damp

7. Oliebollenkraam Vinkhuizen €7.95
 

We went to get some groceries in “Vinkietown” because a friend was coming over for dinner. And what do I see there? An oliebollen stall, so I immediately bought 6 oliebollen. Phew, this was the most expensive one of all the stalls. I’m going bankrupt with this new hobby.
+ Not too greasy, nice size but a bit of a lemon shape
+ Slightly sweet oliebollen, but definitely not too greasy. Even after the meal, they slid down easily!
- Larger air pockets instead of the desired honeycomb structure.
- Maybe a bit too dark or overbaked.

8. Oliebollenkraam Hornbach €7.20
 

My friend Hanna went to pick up these oliebollen for her colleagues at TheResales. Later, the three of us went to try them at home. Unfortunately, they didn’t really taste great. And I couldn’t finish the test because the currants in the oliebollen were so bitter that I couldn’t handle it.
+ Golden brown
+ Strong honeycomb structure
- A bit chewy inside
- Bitter currants that we all found inedible

9. Oliebollenkraam Tuinland
 

These were delivered to my home by Hanna and Theresa by car. You can’t get much more luxurious than that!
+ Large,
+ The currant/raisin ones were really great, golden brown, delicious, and crunchy
- The natural ones were a bit dense and a little "doughy"
- Very filling, I’m starting to look like an oliebollen myself, and this is because of the Tuinland oliebollen.

10. Oliebollenkraam UMCG €7.50
 

I had to go through rain and wind for this one, and it was already dark, our dog was getting quite sad about it. But you have to do what it takes to do a proper oliebollen test in Groningen. Fortunately, it was worth it. The people at the stall were also very cheerful despite the awful weather.
+ Golden yellow and flavorful
+ Nice size and crispy
- A tiny bit greasy, but it’s an oliebollen after all
- A bit filling

Summary of the Oliebollen Review in Groningen

It’s quite amazing, but all in all, I can honestly say, as a currant- and raisin-hater, that the currant-and-raisin oliebollen were actually the best everywhere, literally everywhere. Also, I have to say something from the heart, the most beautiful quote on the oliebollen packaging, with a unique packaging (most had those standard yellow bags), came from the Grote Markt: 't’s just a note, where you eat with the finest oliebollen.' Beautiful, right? The best packaging goes to Tuinland, with the quote: 'Old-fashioned Delicious'. The best thing is to order the powdered sugar separately, otherwise you’ll get those hailstones that you could throw at someone to knock them out. When the powdered sugar is delivered in separate bags, we’re not too happy. It’s a hassle. Maybe it’s psychological, but it also seemed less tasty.
 

Our Advice if You're Buying Oliebollen at a Stall in Groningen

Our advice is to always choose a currant/raisin oliebollen. And… if you go to the oliebollen stalls at Tuinland, Paddepoel, or Grote Markt, you’re ALWAYS good to go! If you want to have a contest to see who can eat the most oliebollen in an hour, I’d definitely recommend Meijer. They’re tasty and you can keep eating them!