Speculaas is often mistakenly called a Dutch ginger cookie. The spice mix used in ginger cookies has an emphasis on ginger, rather than cinnamon. Another confusion is the speculoos cookie (sold under the brand name Biscoff); this is a Belgian copy, but without most of the spices, except cinnamon.
Key Ingredient in This Recipe
You’ll find the complete list of ingredients and exact quantities in the recipe below.
- All-purpose flour
- Butter
- Dark brown sugar – you can use light brown sugar as well, but you will have a lighter colored speculaas.
- Baking powder
- Speculaas spice mix – see this post for the ingredients.
- Blanched / peeled almonds – Almonds are optional, but if you want to blanch the almonds yourself, see this post to learn how.
The most iconic speculaas cookie is made in a wooden mold, in shapes of windmills, flowers or animals. This cookie is available everywhere in The Netherlands, like grocery stores, bakeries and in all touristic shops and attractions.
Since I do not have a speculaas mold, I made the next best thing and that’s a thicker speculaas, broken or cut into chunks.
How to Make Original Dutch Speculaas
Step 1 – Make the dough, by mixing all the dry ingredients (except for the almonds). Add the cold butter in small pieces and mix with your hands until it all comes together.
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for a minimum of 3 hours, or, preferably overnight.
Step 2 – Roll the dough into a rectangle with a thickness of 1-1.5 cm (0.3-0.5 inches). Place the dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Step 3 – Push the almond halves or slivers slightly into the dough in any pattern you like. This step is optional.
Brush egg wash over the dough and almonds, to give it shine.
Transfer the baking dish into an oven of 325 degrees F. and bake for 35-40 minutes.
Step 4 – Speculaas is done when a toothpick comes out clean and the almonds turned light brown.
Speculaas should be brittle, in other words, not pliable. You can cut it with a knife or break it with your hands. The latter is what most people do.
There you have it Original Dutch Speculaas.
ENJOY !
Other Typical Dutch Cookies to Try
Original Dutch Speculaas
Pin Recipe FacebookIngredients
- 250 grams all-purpose flour
- 175 grams butter
- 112 grams dark brown sugar
- 2.5 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/4 tablespoon speculaas spice mix
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup blanched/peeled almonds, optional
Instructions
- Make the dough, by mixing all the dry ingredients (except for the almonds). Add the cold butter in small pieces and mix with your hands until it all comes together.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for a minimum of 3 hours, or, preferably overnight.
- Roll the dough into a rectangle with a thickness of 1-1.5 cm (0.3-0.5 inches).
- Place the dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and push the almond halves slightly into the dough in any pattern you like. Alternatively, you can just sprinkle slivers over the dough and slightly press down on them. (NOTE 1)
- Brush egg wash over the dough and almonds. (NOTE 2)
- Transfer the baking dish into an oven of 325 degrees F. and bake for 35-40 minutes. (NOTE 3)
- Speculaas should be brittle, in other words, not pliable. You can cut it with a knife or break it with your hands. The latter is what most people do.
- There you have it Original Dutch Speculaas. – ENJOY !
Notes
- Almonds on speculaas are optional. Originally, speculaas does not have almonds, so it is considered a luxury addition.
- Egg wash is not a must, it is to add shine to the cookie; more of an aesthetic reason than a necessity. If you cook for two, most of the egg will not be used, so I can totally understand if you want to ignore this step. You could use milk or cream instead. If you do like to use egg wash, you can use egg yolk or whole egg mixed with water and/or milk. (one whole egg, whisked with 1 tablespoon of cool water). Since the amount used is so minor, I did not add it to the ingredients list.
- Speculaas is done when a toothpick comes out clean and the almonds turned light brown.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.