Discover the joy of baking traditional Dutch Speculaas cookies or Spicy Sinterklass cakes, perfect treats for the holiday season. These deliciously spiced cookies are made with a blend of warm spices and have a rich, buttery flavor. They are usually enjoyed during the festive season and are often shaped into traditional designs using special wooden molds. Serve them with a mug of hot cocoa or a cup of tea for a cozy winter treat.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
- In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom.
- In a separate large bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Divide the dough into two equal portions and shape each portion into a disc.
- Wrap the discs in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Take one disc of dough out of the refrigerator and roll it out on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness.
- Use cookie cutters or traditional wooden molds to cut out shapes and transfer them to the prepared baking sheet.
- Repeat with the remaining dough.
- Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly golden around the edges.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled, store the cookies in an airtight container.
- Serve and enjoy!
