Best 6 Speculaas Cookies Recipes

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Speculaas cookies, also known as spiced Dutch cookies or windmill cookies, are a traditional treat enjoyed during the holiday season in the Netherlands, Belgium, and beyond. These delectable cookies are characterized by their unique blend of spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger, which create a warm and aromatic flavor. Speculaas cookies are typically made with a combination of butter, sugar, flour, and eggs, and they are often decorated with intricate designs or the addition of almonds or candied fruit. Whether you prefer them crispy or soft, thick or thin, there's a speculaas cookie recipe out there to satisfy your cravings.

Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!

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.

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 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 COOKIES



Speculaas - Dutch cookies image

These are very popular spice cookies in Holland, especially for Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas Day, December 5). The sweet spice flavor is wonderful. The prep time includes refrigerating the dough overnight.

Provided by PanNan

Categories     Dessert

Time 8h12m

Yield 48 cookies

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 cup dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/4 cups butter
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 cup slivered almonds
3/4 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups sifted flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
3/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Steps:

  • Combine sugar and milk in a bowl.
  • Stir until smooth.
  • In another bowl, sift the dry ingredients and blend in the butter until the mixture is like cornmeal.
  • Add the sugar and milk mixture and the almonds.
  • Mix well.
  • Wrap in foil, or wax paper and refrigerate overnight.
  • Roll out the dough pretty thin.
  • Use Christmas cookie cutters (or a windmill or other shaped cookie cutter if it isn't Christmas).
  • Dust the cutter well with flour to be sure it doesn't stick.
  • Place on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 for about 10- 12 minutes.
  • Remove and cool.

SPECULAAS (DUTCH SPICE COOKIES OR WINDMILL COOKIES)



Speculaas (Dutch Spice Cookies or Windmill Cookies) image

Traditionally, these cookies are pressed into wooden windmill molds. But they're delicious in any shape!

Provided by Erin K. Brown

Categories     Dessert

Time 1h15m

Yield 60-80 cookies, 60-80 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 cups brown sugar
1 1/2 cups butter (room temp)
1 egg
3 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon cardamom

Steps:

  • In a large mixing bowl, cream together sugar and butter. Add egg.
  • Add remaining ingredients and stir to form a stiff dough.
  • If making the cookies without a mold, roll the dough into cylinders that are the diameter of your desired cookies.*
  • Freeze for at least 20-30 minutes.
  • Slice the chilled dough into thin (~1/4 inch) rounds and place on a cookie sheet. Cookies will spread a little bit upon baking.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes.
  • *Also chill dough before pressing into molds or using cookie cutters.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 96.5, Fat 4.8, SaturatedFat 3, Cholesterol 15.7, Sodium 81.8, Carbohydrate 12.8, Fiber 0.2, Sugar 7.1, Protein 0.9

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     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Dutch

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:

  • Use high-quality ingredients: The better the ingredients, the better the cookies will taste. Use real butter, not margarine, and use a good quality flour and sugar.
  • Chill the dough before baking: This will help the cookies hold their shape and prevent them from spreading too much.
  • Bake the cookies at a high temperature: This will help them get crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.
  • Don't overbake the cookies: They should be baked until they are just set, but not browned.
  • Let the cookies cool completely before storing: This will help them keep their shape and texture.

Conclusion:

Speculaas cookies are a delicious and festive treat that are perfect for any occasion. They are easy to make and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a little planning and effort, you can bake a batch of speculaas cookies that will be the hit of your next party or gathering.

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