Speculaas (spice cookies)

== Description ==
A famous cookie made from spices. It can be seen year-round but mainly around Sinterklaas.
Note: Some Dutch/European specialty stores may have pre-mixed speculaas spice packages.
=== Ingredients ===
* 500 gr. flour
* 250 gr. butter or margarine
* 1/2 tsp baking powder
* 1/2 tsp salt
* 125 gr. dark brown or Demarara Sugar
* 50 ml milk
* slivered almonds
* 20 grams cinnamon
* 10 grams ground nutmeg
* 5 grams ground cloves
* a pinch of cardamom powder
* a pinch of ginger powder
== Directions ==
Sift the flour over a large cutting board or countertop. Sprinkle the
baking powder over it, the salt and Sugar. Thinly slice the (hard)
butter or margarine and add it to the flour-and-Sugar mix. Add the milk
and hand knead all until there is a firm but malleable dough. Pack the
dough into a piece of foil and keep in the fridge overnight (to allow
the spices to penetrate the cookie dough).
If you have a ‘speculaasplank’ dust it with flour. Press the dough into
the hollows, cut off the excess and sprinkle with slivered almonds.
Shake the dolls out onto a dusted countertop. Put flat, almond-covered
side down on a greased cookie sheet and bake in a preheated oven at
180 °C for 15 – 20 minutes, depending on the size of the dolls.
If you don’t have a ‘speculaasplank’, roll dough out thinly on a lightly floured board and cut into shapes (windmills and Sinterklaas/Santa shapes are traditional).
Decorate with whole almonds if using them.
Place about 2cms apart on lightly greased cookie sheets.
Bake in 180C oven 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
Cool 1 minute, transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Makes 4 to 6 dozen (depending upon size)
== See also ==
Category:Almond Recipes
Category:Cardamom Recipes
Category:Dutch Baking
Category:Dutch Recipes