Speculaas Cookies Recipe
Speculaas are traditional spiced Dutch cookies known for their crisp texture and aromatic blend of warm spices. These cookies feature a perfect balance of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, and cardamom, delivering a festive and comforting treat especially popular during the holiday season.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 32 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Dutch
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Dough
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
Instructions
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar using a hand mixer or stand mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy, which usually takes about 3-5 minutes.
- Add milk: Pour in the milk and mix until the mixture is well combined and smooth.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and all the ground spices to ensure even distribution.
- Form the dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing continuously until a dough forms. Avoid overmixing.
- Chill dough: Divide the dough into two equal portions. Flatten each into a disk, wrap tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to firm up the dough and develop flavors.
- Preheat oven and prepare baking sheets: Set oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Roll and shape dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use speculaas molds or cookie cutters to cut out shapes as desired.
- Bake cookies: Arrange cookies on the prepared baking sheets, leaving slight space between them. Bake for 12 minutes or until edges feel firm but not browned.
- Cool cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes to firm up, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- Using cold dough makes rolling and cutting easier and helps cookies keep their shape.
- Speculaas molds give traditional impressions, but cookie cutters work well too.
- If you prefer a more intense spice flavor, you can toast the spices lightly before mixing.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with plant-based margarine and milk with unsweetened almond or soy milk.
Find it online: https://sweetworldtastes.com/speculaas-cookies-recipe/
