Speculaas - Spiced cookies

Speculaas (Dutch pronunciation: [spekyˈlaːs], Flemish speculoos, French spéculoos) is a type of shortcrust biscuit (cookie), traditionally baked for consumption on St Nicholas' Eve in the Netherlands (December 5) and Belgium (December 6). In recent years it has become available all year round. Speculaas are thin, very crunchy, slightly browned and, most significantly, have some image or figure (often from the traditional stories about St. Nicholas) stamped on the front side before baking; the back is flat. [Source: Wikipedia]

Ingredients Speculaas

250 grams flour
150 grams brown sugar
100 grams butter
20 grams "speculaaskruiden" [speculaas herbs] *
1/2 deciliter water
25 grams almonds

Preparation of Speculaas

Preheat the oven to 175 ° C.
Knead all the ingredients, except the almonds, to the dough by adding water until you have a smooth ball.
Put the almonds with cold water, bring them to boil and pour it off. Peel them and chop finely.
Knead the dough with the almonds.
Press the dough on a a cookie sheet greased with butter [you can also cut shapes first]
Place the biscuit in the middle of the oven and bake it brown and cooked, in about 25 minutes.

* You can buy "speculaaskruiden" in a local Dutch store or you can prepare speculaaskruiden yourself

Ingredients Speculaaskruiden

30 grams cinnamon
10 grams powdered cloves
10 grams nutmeg
5 grams white pepper
5 grams anise seed
5 grams coriander seed

Place all herbs in a bowl and shake them over. Keep them in a pot you can close properly.