Best 10 Speculaas Cookies Or Spicy Sinterklass Cakes Recipes

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**Speculaas Cookies: A Taste of Dutch Christmas Tradition**

Savor the delectable flavors of Dutch Christmas with Speculaas Cookies, also known as Spicy Sinterklaas Cakes. These iconic treats are a cherished part of Dutch holiday traditions, enjoyed by families and friends alike. With their unique blend of spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and cardamom, Speculaas Cookies offer a symphony of flavors that warm the heart and fill the home with the aromas of the season.

These beloved cookies come in various shapes, often featuring traditional motifs such as windmills, hearts, and the beloved Dutch character, Black Pete. Their crunchy texture and rich, caramelized taste make them a delightful treat that pairs perfectly with a warm cup of coffee or tea.

In this article, we present a collection of Speculaas Cookie recipes that cater to diverse dietary preferences and skill levels. From classic recipes passed down through generations to gluten-free and vegan adaptations, our selection ensures that everyone can enjoy the magic of these traditional Dutch Christmas cookies.

**Embrace the joy of baking Speculaas Cookies and create lasting memories with your loved ones this holiday season.**

Here are our top 10 tried and tested recipes!

SPECULAAS COOKIES



Speculaas Cookies image

When imprinting the fragrant spiced cookie dough with springerle molds, stop frequently to clean the patterns with the tip of a skewer. This allows for a better impression in the dough and resulting cookie.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Cookie Recipes

Yield Makes about 32 cookies

Number Of Ingredients 14

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground mace
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
Pinch of ground cloves
6 ounces (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
1/3 cup water
Confectioners' sugar, for surface

Steps:

  • Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, mace, white pepper, and cloves in a large bowl.
  • Cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in half the flour mixture. Beat in water, then remaining flour mixture. Shape into 3 disks. Pat each to a 1-inch thickness, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
  • Dust surface and springerle mold lightly with confectioners' sugar. Roll out dough to a 1/4- to 3/8-inch thickness (deeper molds will need thicker dough). Cut a piece of dough about the size of the mold. Press mold firmly into dough, flip over, and gently roll over dough with a rolling pin. Flip over, and press onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Using a knife, trim excess dough. Gently coax dough out of mold with fingertips and onto a baking sheet. Repeat, spacing cookies 1 inch apart, and placing same-size cookies on same sheet. Freeze until firm, about 1 hour.
  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place 1 sheet of cookies in oven, and immediately reduce temperature to 250. Bake, 1 sheet at a time, until cookies are set and just beginning to turn light gold around edges, 55 to 65 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.

SPECULAAS



Speculaas image

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

1/2 cups blanched almonds, toasted
1½ cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup softened unsalted butter
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg

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 COOKIES OR SPICY SINTERKLASS CAKES



Speculaas Cookies or Spicy Sinterklass Cakes image

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     Dutch Recipes

Time 1h30m

Yield 30

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 tablespoons milk
⅔ cup dark brown sugar
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons chopped slivered almonds
2 tablespoons chopped candied citron
⅔ cup butter
½ cup slivered almonds

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

MARTHA'S SPECULAAS COOKIES



Martha's Speculaas Cookies image

One of the most popular Dutch sweet treats is a spice-filled, crunchy cookie called speculaas, or "mirror," since the cookies reflect the image of the molds from which they're shaped.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Cookie Recipes

Yield Makes about 24

Number Of Ingredients 15

3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon freshly ground cardamom
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground mace
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup whole milk

Steps:

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and spices.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter and sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 minutes. Reduce speed to low; beat in half the flour mixture. Beat in milk, followed by remaining flour mixture. Shape dough into a flat disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours or up to overnight.
  • Line three baking sheets with parchment. Dab speculaas mold all over with a small piece of dough (this provides a light buttery coating that prevents sticking). Generously sprinkle mold with flour, tapping to remove excess. Take a piece of dough that is roughly the same size as the mold; using your palm, press into mold. Using a long, thin knife, scrape off excess dough. Invert mold over a prepared baking sheet; rap far end of the mold against the sheet, holding it at an angle to release the formed cookie. Sprinkle mold with more flour; repeat with remaining dough. Gather scraps (refrigerate if dough gets too soft) and form more cookies. Freeze at least 30 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake until firm and golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer parchment with cookies to wire racks; let cool completely.

SPECULAAS



Speculaas image

I believe another name for Windmill Cookies is Speculaas. The spices "speculaaskruiden" make this cookie so distinctive and were imported centuries ago from the far east.

Provided by ICECATS

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Belgian

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 10

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground ginger
⅛ teaspoon baking powder
⅛ teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 ¼ cups packed brown sugar
1 egg
½ cup sliced almonds

Steps:

  • In a medium-sized bowl, mix the flour with spices, baking powder and salt.
  • In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar at high speed until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and mix well.
  • Stir in by hand half the flour mixture, then add the remaining flour and almonds. Mix with a wooden spoon or knead with hands.
  • Divide dough into four parts, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for several hours. (If you are using a mold, chill it as well.)
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and grease two cookie sheets.
  • Remove one quarter of the dough from the refrigerator and flatten it with your hands. Oil your mold and lightly flour it. Using your fingers, press dough firmly into the mold. Trim any excess dough from the mold with a knife.
  • Transfer the cookies onto greased cookie sheets with a spatula, spacing about one inch apart.
  • Refrigerate dough trimming to be rerolled later. Lightly flour but do not re-oil cookie mold.
  • Repeat process with remaining dough. When cookie sheets are full, bake cookies for 20 - 25 minutes or until golden brown around the edges. Store in a covered tin.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 367.9 calories, Carbohydrate 47.6 g, Cholesterol 56.2 mg, Fat 18.1 g, Fiber 1.5 g, Protein 4.8 g, SaturatedFat 10.1 g, Sodium 151.6 mg, Sugar 22.5 g

SPECULAAS COOKIES



Speculaas Cookies image

A delicious, traditional Dutch holiday cookie that tastes similar to gingerbread. Simple, quick, wonderful! As we Dutchies say, 'eet smakelijk!'

Provided by xcgrl604

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Dutch

Time 30m

Yield 24

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 ½ cups brown sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 egg
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 cups all-purpose flour

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Dust 2 baking sheets with flour.
  • Combine brown sugar and butter together in a bowl; beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, cinnamon, baking powder, cloves, and nutmeg. Mix in flour, 1 cup at a time, until dough comes together.
  • Shape dough into cookies by hand or using cookie cutters. Arrange on the prepared baking sheet.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until firm but not hard, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 163 calories, Carbohydrate 21.1 g, Cholesterol 28.1 mg, Fat 8.1 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 2 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, Sodium 27.3 mg, Sugar 8.9 g

SPECULAAS COOKIES OR SPICY SINTERKLASS CAKES



Speculaas Cookies or Spicy Sinterklass Cakes image

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     Dutch Recipes

Time 1h30m

Yield 30

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 tablespoons milk
⅔ cup dark brown sugar
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons chopped slivered almonds
2 tablespoons chopped candied citron
⅔ cup butter
½ cup slivered almonds

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

SINTERKLAAS COOKIES



Sinterklaas Cookies image

After opening our gifts on Christmas Eve as children, we would make these cookies for Santa Claus to snack on with his glass of milk. The crisp spice cookies are delicious dipped in that milk-or in your coffee on Christmas morning. -Charli Fontana, Pella, Iowa

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 30m

Yield about 5 dozen

Number Of Ingredients 9

2-1/2 cups butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 cups packed brown sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
6 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Steps:

  • Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in eggs. In another bowl, whisk remaining ingredients; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Divide dough into quarters; shape each into a 12-in.-long roll. Wrap tightly in waxed paper; refrigerate overnight., Preheat oven to 375°. Unwrap rolls and cut dough crosswise into 3/4-in. slices. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake until set, 10-12 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 160 calories, Fat 7g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 25mg cholesterol, Sodium 91mg sodium, Carbohydrate 22g carbohydrate (13g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 2g protein.

SPECULAAS COOKIES OR SPICY SINTERKLASS CAKES



Speculaas Cookies or Spicy Sinterklass Cakes image

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     Dutch Recipes

Time 1h30m

Yield 30

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 tablespoons milk
⅔ cup dark brown sugar
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons chopped slivered almonds
2 tablespoons chopped candied citron
⅔ cup butter
½ cup slivered almonds

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 COOKIES OR SPICY SINTERKLASS CAKES



Speculaas Cookies or Spicy Sinterklass Cakes image

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     Dutch Recipes

Time 1h30m

Yield 30

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 tablespoons milk
⅔ cup dark brown sugar
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons chopped slivered almonds
2 tablespoons chopped candied citron
⅔ cup butter
½ cup slivered almonds

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

Tips:

  • To make the dough ahead of time, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 days. When you're ready to bake, let the dough come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before rolling it out.
  • If you don't have a speculaas mold, you can use a cookie cutter to cut out the cookies. Just be sure to flour the cookie cutter well so that the dough doesn't stick.
  • Be careful not to overbake the cookies. They should be golden brown around the edges but still soft in the center.
  • Let the cookies cool completely before storing them in an airtight container. They will keep for up to 2 weeks at room temperature.

Conclusion:

Speculaas cookies are a delicious and festive treat that are perfect for the holiday season. With their unique flavor and texture, they are sure to be a hit with your family and friends. So next time you're looking for a special cookie to bake, give speculaas cookies a try. You won't be disappointed!

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