Journey through the delightful world of Dutch culinary heritage with Sinterklaas Cookies, a traditional treat synonymous with the festive season. These cookies, also known as Speculaas, are a symphony of flavors, capturing the essence of the holiday spirit. This article presents a delectable collection of recipes, each offering a unique twist on the classic Sinterklaas cookie. From the traditional Dutch recipe, handed down through generations, to modern interpretations that incorporate innovative flavors and ingredients, this article has something for every cookie enthusiast. Whether you prefer the classic windmill shape or intricate designs, these recipes will guide you in creating delectable cookies that will transport you to the heart of the Netherlands. Let the irresistible aroma of spices, the crunch of caramelized sugar, and the warmth of freshly baked cookies fill your kitchen as you embark on this culinary adventure.
Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!
DUTCH SPECULAAS
These Dutch spice cookies taste similar to the windmill cookies we enjoy in the United States. In Holland, it's tradition to mold the dough into the shape of St. Nicholas and serve the baked cookies on Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas Day). -Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 50m
Yield about 2-1/2 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, molasses and orange zest. Combine the flour, ground almonds, cinnamon, baking powder, nutmeg, cloves, pepper, ginger and cardamom. Gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or until easy to handle. , Preheat oven to 350°. On a parchment-lined surface, roll a small amount of dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Use a floured cookie stamp to press design into dough, then cut with floured 3-in. cookie cutters, leaving 1 in. between cookies. Remove excess dough and reroll scraps, if desired., Transfer parchment with dough to cookie sheet. If dough has warmed, place baking sheet in refrigerator until it firms up, about 10-15 minutes. Bake at 350° until edges are lightly browned, 8-10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 151 calories, Fat 7g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 30mg cholesterol, Sodium 65mg sodium, Carbohydrate 19g carbohydrate (8g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 2g protein.
SPECULAAS COOKIES OR SPICY SINTERKLASS CAKES
This traditional Dutch cookie recipe came with a mold I got 20 years ago. Speculaas is a corruption of the Latin speculum (mirror). The dough is pressed into carved molds that can be used for wall decorations. When turned out onto the cookie sheet, the picture appears as its mirror image, hence the name. In the Sinterklass season they are available in 2/3 cookie size to huge thick men and women up to 1 pound known as lovers. If molds are not available, roll dough to desired thickness and use gingerbread man cutter or other cutter shapes. They are great to make ahead around Christmas because they last a long time.
Provided by Harriet A. Schipper
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Dutch
Time 1h30m
Yield 30
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- In a large bowl, dissolve the brown sugar in milk. Combine the flour, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, baking powder and salt. Stir the dry ingredients into the sugar and milk. Mix in 2 tablespoons of almonds and candied citron. Cut in the butter until it starts to form a dough, then knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Cover dough and chill for about 1 hour for easier handling.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Dust a wooden speculaas mold lightly with cornstarch. Firmly press the dough into the mold. Run a knife around the edges to trim off excess dough. Gently lift dough out of the mold or tap out onto a cookie sheet. Press remaining almond slivers into cookies to match the designs.
- Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven, just until the edges begin to darken. If your cookies are more than 1/2 inch thick, bake at 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) for up to 30 minutes. Cool cookies on wire racks to crisp. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a month. The flavor will get better with age.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 96.7 calories, Carbohydrate 10.9 g, Cholesterol 10.9 mg, Fat 5.4 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 1.4 g, SaturatedFat 2.7 g, Sodium 56.1 mg, Sugar 3.3 g
SPECULAAS
Here is a recipe for the St. Nicholas Day treat (also called speculoos or Dutch windmill cookies) enjoyed in Belgium and the Netherlands. They are traditionally molded into the shape of windmills, but these crisp, almond-y spice cookies will turn out well if you roll out the dough and cut out any shape you like. This version is an adaptation of one found in Anita Chu's book, "Field Guide to Cookies: How to Identify and Bake Virtually Every Cookie Imaginable."
Provided by Laura Anderson
Categories brunch, dessert
Time 30m
Yield About 3 1/2 dozen cookies
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Using a food processor, finely grind the almonds with 2 tablespoons of the flour. Whisk together ground almonds with the rest of the flour, baking soda, spices, and salt in a bowl and set aside.
- In a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugars on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Add egg and beat until combined.
- With the mixer on low speed, add in the flour mixture and mix until just moistened and combined.
- Flatten the dough into a disk, wrap well with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least three hours, but preferably overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line several cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll dough 1/8 inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Cut out cookies and place on sheets about 1 inch apart.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through, until firm and lightly golden around the edges. Cool sheets on wire racks for a couple minutes before transferring cookies directly onto wire racks with a spatula to finish cooling.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 64, UnsaturatedFat 2 grams, Carbohydrate 8 grams, Fat 3 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 1 gram, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 32 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams, TransFat 0 grams
SPECULAAS HOLLAND COOKIES FOR SINTERKLAAS
The yummy almonds,spices and brown sugar are a great combo.These cookies are made to celebrate Sinterklaas in Holland.This recipe is from Bust magazine.
Provided by Middaybikeride
Categories Dessert
Time 40m
Yield 8-14 cookies, 4-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- For the dough stir together 1 1/2 cups flour with 1/3 cup flour,baking soda,salt,cinnamon,groud cloves,nutmeg.
- Next add the 3/4 cup brown sugar,mix well.
- Next cut in 1 1/2 sticks of butter and add the blanched almonds and milk.
- Knead everything together into a stiff dough,if its too stiff add 1/2 tablespoon of milk.
- Roll dough out on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness.
- Cut with cookie cutters into any shape you'd like.
- Lay out on lightly greased cookie sheet,bake about 20 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 784.4, Fat 44.7, SaturatedFat 22.9, Cholesterol 92.3, Sodium 383.9, Carbohydrate 89.2, Fiber 4.3, Sugar 40.9, Protein 10.5
DUTCH KRUIDNOTEN FOR SINTERKLAAS
This is typical dutch recipe. From september you can buy these little cookies in the shop. The are used for the December 5th celibration of Sinterklaas.
Provided by coinchantal
Categories European
Time 30m
Yield 50-100 cookies
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- 1. Put all the ingredients in a large bowl.
- 2. Knead it all together like a bread. It should be soft and flexibel.
- 3. Warm your oven 300 F or 150°C.
- 4. Make from the dough little balls ( they should be around 1/2 inch).
- 5. Put them in the oven.
- 6. They should be ready and brown in about 20 minute.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 42.7, Fat 1.7, SaturatedFat 1.1, Cholesterol 4.4, Sodium 37.2, Carbohydrate 6.4, Fiber 0.1, Sugar 2.4, Protein 0.6
Tips for Making Perfect Sinterklaas Cookies:
- Use high-quality butter and flour. This will result in a richer, more flavorful cookie.
- Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. This will help to incorporate air into the dough, making the cookies light and airy.
- Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking. This will help the cookies to hold their shape in the oven.
- Bake the cookies until the edges are just starting to brown. Overbaking will make the cookies dry and crumbly.
- Let the cookies cool completely before decorating. This will help to prevent the decorations from melting or running.
Conclusion:
Sinterklaas cookies are a delicious and festive treat that are perfect for the holiday season. With a little planning and effort, you can easily make these cookies at home. Be sure to experiment with different flavors and decorations to create your own unique Sinterklaas cookies.
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