Gevulde speculaas

[Chufi]

Gevulde speculaas

This is a traditional Dutch cookie, cloesely associated with the feast of Sinterklaas on December 5th. From early November onwards, the wonderful smell of spicy cookies is coming out of all the bakeries.

To make these cookies you need the special spicemix, speculaaskruiden. You can make your own, the spices that should be in there are: cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, aniseed, coriander, cardamom, in a ratio: cinnamon 3 : cloves 2: nutmeg 2: ginger 1/2: aniseed 1/2: coriander 1/2: cardamom 1/2.

Or you can PM your Dutch eGullet contact (that's me) and she'll be happy to send you some!

• 300 g flour
  
• 150 g butter, softened
  
• 150 g soft brown sugar
  
• 1 T speculaas spices, to taste
  
• 1 tsp baking powder
  
• pinch of salt
  
• 1 T milk
  
• 250 g almond paste (see below)
  
• grated rind of half a lemon
  
• 2 T cream or milk
  
• beaten egg to glaze
  
• almond halves to decorate
  

To make the almond paste, grind 125 grams of blanched almonds together with 125 grams of fine sugar until you have a coarse paste. Mix with 1 egg and keep in the fridge.

Make a dough by mixing the first 5 ingredients together, adding some milk if you have to, to make it come together. Divide into 4 equal parts.

Mix the almond paste with the lemon zest and the cream until you have a spreadable mixture. Roll out two parts of the dough into a narrow rectangle. Put unto a buttered baking sheet (or one lined with baking parchment). Spread the almond paste on top. It will still be pretty stiff. Carefully spread it over the pastry with the back of a spoon, wetting it to keep the paste from sticking.

Roll out the other 2 parts of the dough and place on top. Press the edges to seal and trim all around with a knife.

Press the almond halves on top and glaze the two logs with the beaten egg. Bake at 180 C / 350 F for 20- 30 minutes. Cut into small pieces (it's very rich) to serve.

note: instead of making two logs, you could make one big square ‘cake’. Or make it in a round tin, or (as Abra did) littel individual cakes made in miniature muffin tins.

Keywords: Brownies/Bars, Snack, Cake

( RG1859 )