Dutch Speculaas Spice Mix

Dutch Speculaas Spice Mix: Traditional Blend for Cookies & More

Dutch Speculaas Cookie Spice Mix (Speculaas kruiden) is a warm spice blend used in traditional Dutch holiday baking. Speculaas is the name of the iconic Dutch windmill cookies, a type of spiced shortbread biscuit made with this spice mix. They are a staple in cookie jars all year long, but are especially popular during the holiday season. Speculaas spice is warm and fragrant, with cinnamon as the dominant flavor, complemented by a mix of nutmeg, cloves, ginger, and other spices. It has a deep, slightly sweet spiciness that adds a comforting touch to baked goods.

Speculaas spices are also used to flavor all kinds of other traditional holiday baking, like pepernoten (spiced bite-sized cookies), speculaas loaf cakes, speculoos cookies, filled speculaas (almond paste-filled speculaas pastry). In the Netherlands, pre-mixed Speculaas spices are available in most supermarkets. However, if you’re outside the country, you might need to look for it in specialty shops, order it online, or make your own blend at home using a recipe like this one.

Customization

Speculaas spice blends can vary slightly, and many Dutch bakeries have their own unique recipes. The base of any traditional speculaas mix is cinnamon, which makes up the majority of the blend. Other essential spices typically include nutmeg, clove, ginger, white pepper, and coriander. Some versions also add extra flavors like cardamom or mace.

Aniseed is a common addition to many speculaas mixes, but I personally prefer to skip it. The strong licorice-like flavor can easily overshadow the other spices. However, if you’d like a hint of aniseed, try adding about ½ teaspoon for a more balanced touch. Speculaas spice mix is somewhat similar to British mixed spice and American pumpkin pie spice. As in, they share many of the same ingredients, but speculaas has a distinct typical flavor of its own.

Speculaas Spice Blend (Dutch Holiday Spice Mix)

Dutch speculaas spice mix is the traditional blend used in the iconic windmill cookies. This simple recipe combines spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves to create a rich flavor for cookies, cakes, and more. I use the ground version of all the spices, but you could grind them yourself with a mortar and pestle or electric spice grinder if you prefer. This recipe makes about 7 tablespoons of spice mix, enough for several batches of cookies or treats.

Ingredients

4 Tbsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp ground nutmeg
2 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground coriander
½ tsp ground mace
½ tsp ground cardamom
½ tsp allspice
¼ tsp ground white pepper

Instructions

Combine Ingredients: Add all spices to a bowl and mix well.
Store the spice mix: Store the Speculaas Spice Mix in an airtight container or glass jar with a tightly closed lid. Keep in a cool, dark, and dry place. The mix retains its flavor for up to 6 – 12 months.

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