Best 7 Spekulatius Cookies Recipes

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In the realm of festive baking, few treats evoke the warmth and cheer of the holiday season quite like the beloved German spice cookie known as Spekulatius. With its distinctive windmill or intricate designs, this delectable creation takes center stage on cookie platters, filling homes with the irresistible aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom.

Prepare to embark on a culinary journey as we delve into a collection of Spekulatius recipes that capture the essence of this timeless tradition. From the classic German Spekulatius, renowned for its crispy texture and rich flavors, to the Dutch variant Speculaas, characterized by its alluring almond filling, these recipes offer a symphony of tastes and textures that will delight both seasoned bakers and those new to the art of cookie-making.

Embrace the magic of the season and allow your kitchen to be infused with the enticing aromas of these delectable treats. Whether you prefer the traditional windmill shape or desire a more contemporary twist, this curated selection of recipes ensures that every bite transports you to a realm of holiday enchantment.

Here are our top 7 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.

SPEKULATIUS (GERMAN SPICE COOKIES) RECIPE



Spekulatius (German Spice Cookies) Recipe image

German spekulatius-a cousin to Dutch spekulaas-are crisp, thin cookies filled with Christmas spices that are perfect for the holidays.

Provided by Jennifer McGavin

Categories     Dessert

Time 2h42m

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 1/4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla sugar
7 ounces unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 large eggs, at room temperature
4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baker's ammonia
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom

Steps:

  • Gather the ingredients.
  • In a large bowl, cream granulated sugar and vanilla sugar with butter until well combined.
  • Beat in eggs, one at a time.
  • Sift or whisk together flour with baker's ammonia or baking powder , salt, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom.
  • Stir into creamed mixture until it forms a stiff dough.
  • Shape dough into a ball, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 or more hours (overnight is best).
  • Oil and flour a spekulatius mold. Tap out all excess flour.
  • Roll a golf ball-size piece of dough between your lightly floured hands into an egg shape. Press the dough into the mold, filling all crevices.
  • Use a sharp knife or piece of kitchen twine to cut off excess dough, so the dough is flush with mold. Tap the mold on the counter to release the cookie, or use a sharp knife to start the release of cookie.
  • Carefully place the cookie on a cookie sheet and repeat with the rest of the dough.
  • If this process becomes too onerous, or you do not own any cookie molds, roll the dough 1/8 inch thick (2 to 3 ml) and cut out cookies using your favorite cookie cutters.
  • Bake in an oven heated to 350 F for 10 to 12 minutes or until the cookies brown slightly around the edges. These cookies can be decorated like conventional sugar cookies, but the old-fashioned mold imprints should not be overshadowed, nor should the delicate flavor of the dough be masked.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 47 kcal, Carbohydrate 7 g, Cholesterol 8 mg, Fiber 0 g, Protein 1 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Sodium 12 mg, Sugar 3 g, Fat 2 g, ServingSize 8 dozen cookies (96 servings), UnsaturatedFat 0 g

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 (DUTCH WINDMILL COOKIES)



Speculaas (Dutch Windmill Cookies) image

My grandpa taught me how to make these authentic Dutch windmill cookies, using his wood cookie forms that have passed through the generations. Today, they can be made into any shape you like, using cookie cutters.

Provided by RyGuy

Categories     Dessert

Time 40m

Yield 24-36 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 cup butter or 1 cup margarine
2 3/4 cups flour
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 cup finley chopped blanched almond, divided

Steps:

  • In a bowl, beat the butter 30 seconds or until softened.
  • Combine the remaining ingredients, except for the almonds, in a small bowl.
  • Add half of this mixture into the butter. Stir until mixed.
  • Add the remaining flour mixture and 1/3 cup almonds and stir until mixed.
  • Divide dough in half.
  • On lightly floured surface roll one portion ot the dough to 1/8" thickness.
  • Cut into desired shapes, place on greased cookie sheet and decorate with remaining almonds (if desired).
  • Repeat with second half of dough.
  • Bake at 350 degrees 8-10 minutes, or until browned.
  • Cool on cookie sheet one minute.
  • Remove and allow to cool.

DUTCH SPECULAAS



Dutch Speculaas image

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

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon molasses
2 teaspoons grated orange zest
3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup finely ground almonds
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom

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



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

Tips:

  • Use cold butter: This will help the cookies hold their shape better in the oven.
  • Don't overmix the dough: Overmixing will make the cookies tough.
  • Chill the dough before baking: This will help the cookies spread less in the oven.
  • Bake the cookies until they are just set: Overbaking will make the cookies dry.
  • Let the cookies cool completely before storing: This will help them keep their shape and flavor.

Conclusion:

Spekulatius cookies are a delicious and festive treat that are perfect for the holiday season. They are easy to make and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a little planning and effort, you can make these cookies at home and impress your family and friends. So next time you are looking for a special treat, give these cookies a try. You won't be disappointed!

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