Speculaas Cookies — Dutch Spiced Cookies
Prep time: 30 minCook time: 30 minServings: 10
Views: 34
Submitted by: Antillean Eats
Submit date: November 4, 2026, 8:31 pm
Information
Crisp Dutch speculaas cookies made with brown sugar, butter, and a fragrant blend of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and cardamom. Cut into festive shapes or press into a speculaas mold for a homemade Sinterklaas treat.
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Ingredients
- 250 g all-purpose flour
- 125 g dark brown sugar
- 125 g unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tbsp whole milk, plus a little more if needed
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 30 g sliced almonds (optional)
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Preparation
- Beat the softened butter and brown sugar until evenly combined.
- In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Mix in the milk until a firm dough forms. Add extra milk only a teaspoon at a time if needed; avoid overworking the dough.
- Flatten into a disk, wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Chilling time is additional to the preparation time listed.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll the dough about 4 mm thick on a lightly floured surface. Cut into shapes or press into a lightly floured speculaas mold and unmold carefully. Reroll scraps briefly as needed.
- Transfer to the trays with space between the cookies. Press sliced almonds gently into the tops if using. If the dough has softened, refrigerate the shaped cookies for 10-15 minutes before baking.
- Bake one tray at a time for 12-15 minutes, until the edges darken slightly. Keep the second tray chilled while the first bakes. Cookie size and mold depth can affect baking time.
- Let cool on the tray for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely. The cookies become crisp as they cool.
- Store fully cooled cookies in an airtight container. Makes approximately 30 medium cookies, or 10 servings of about 3 cookies.