Traditional Dutch Kruidnoten, or "Spice Nuts".
The last two months of the year, when the days are getting shorter, mark the time of the year for traditional Dutch kruidnoten, associated with the celebrations of the arrival of Saint Nicholas.
Kruidnoten are small aromatic crunchy cookies, great during the festive season. Easy and super fun for kids to make, perfect for their little hands.
Method
Preheat oven to 170°C (325F).
Line a baking tray with baking paper.
In a bowl of a standing mixer using a paddle attachment mix the butter till it's soft.
Mix the flour with baking powder and sift it using a sieve.
Add the flour mix, sugar, milk, salt, and speculaas spices
Mix it till all the ingredients will come together creating a nice smooth dough.
Using you hands, roll the dough into thin rolls about 0,5cm thick. Cut these in to 0,5cm pieces. Using you hands roll each into a small ball.
Place each ball on the baking tray leaving enough space in between each to let the cookies rise. Gently press them slightly on top with your finger.
Bake it for around 10-15 minutes, until the cookies are lightly brown on the sides.
Remove from the oven and let it cool on a cooking rack.
Keep the cookies in a can, lined with baking paper for up to 10 days.
Ingredients
- 250g all purpose flour
- 3 teaspoons of baking powder
- 125g golden caster sugar
- 100g unsalted butter at room temperature
- pinch of salt
- 50ml full fat milk
- 1 ½ tablespoons speculaas spices
