Speculaas

 

Speculaas is a type of shortcrust biscuit, traditionally baked for consumption on St Nicholas' Eve in the Netherlands (December 5). In recent decades 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.

Ingredients:

3 cups flour
a pinch of baking powder
2/3 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
some milk to soften the dough
2 teaspoons of speculaaskruiden*
a pinch of salt
1/2 cup almonds: blanched and slivered. Keep some almond halves for decorating

Directions:

Knead all ingredients into a soft ball, except the almonds for decorating. Roll out on a floured board to 1/4 inch thickness and stamp out shapes with different butterprints or make a 'gingerbread doll' or cookie. Bake about 25 minutes in a moderate oven (350° F / 180° C), or until an even dark brown.

*Speculaaskruiden:

You can buy them ready-mixed in the Netherlands or you can try making your own.

They consist of:

• cinnamon
• powdered cloves
• nutmeg
• powdered coriander
• allspice
• aniseed
• powdered ginger
• powdered cardamon
• mace

The proportions are a matter of taste, as are the spices you use, and each baker has his own "secret" blend. The trick is to be careful with the very strong spices, and leave out the ones you don't like!

You can eat it on your bread ass well with some butter.
 

Marsepein

At dec. 5th we celebrate 'sinterklaas'. Its most of all for the children, with lots of special sweets and presents. 
If you want to know more about sinterklaas (or sint nicolaas) check wikipedia 


Mix 250 grams of ground almonds with 400 grams of sieved icing sugar. Knead the almonds, castor sugar and 3 or 4 tablespoons rose water into a supple dough. Wrap in plastic or aluminum foil and allow to rest in a cool place overnight. Make figurines of the marzipan.
Most common is little balls, coverd with cacao (we call it marsepein-aardappeltjes *marsepein-potatoes*)

If you wish, you can color the marzipan with food coloring.

Pepernoten

Recipe for Saint Nicholas candy, if you want to know more about Saint Nicholas (Sinterklaas) please check here

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cup flour
1 1/4 cup self-rising flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp. water
1 egg yolk
2 teaspoons of speculaaskruiden*
a pinch of salt

Directions :

Knead all ingredients into a soft ball. Butter two baking sheets. Form about ninety marble-sized balls and place them on the sheets. Flatten each ball slightly. Bake about 20 minutes in a moderate oven (350° F / 180° C), they will be dark brown, very hard and crunchy when cooled.

*Spices used for Speculaas: 15 gr cinnamon, 2 gr cloves, 2 gr nutmeg, 1 gr white peppercorn, 1 gr ginger powder, ½ gr cardamom seeds (from the green pods). Grind in a coffee grinder or mortar.