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Dutch Kruidnoten Recipe – Traditional Dutch Spiced Cookies

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Traditional Dutch kruidnoten are small, crunchy, warmly spiced cookies made with brown sugar and speculaas spices. These bite-sized treats are especially popular during the Dutch Sinterklaas season and are perfect with coffee or hot chocolate.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup self-rising flour
  • ⅓ cup dark brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon speculaas spice mix (or gingerbread spice mix)
  • 3 tablespoons butter (cold, cut into small chunks)
  • 3 tablespoons milk

Instructions

  1. Place the self-rising flour, dark brown sugar, and speculaas spice mix in a food processor. Pulse briefly until evenly combined.
  2. Add the cold butter chunks and milk. Process until the ingredients come together to form a dough.
  3. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 30 minutes to allow it to firm up.
  4. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) for a conventional oven or 320°F (160°C) for a fan-assisted oven.
  5. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll the chilled dough into small balls approximately ½ inch (1 cm) in diameter and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between each one.
  6. Gently press your thumb onto the top of each dough ball to flatten it slightly.
  7. Bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until the kruidnoten are golden brown and lightly crisp.
  8. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and transfer the kruidnoten to a wire rack. Allow them to cool completely before serving. They will become crunchier as they cool.

Notes

  • Speculaas spice substitute: If you do not have speculaas spice mix, use gingerbread spice mix or a combination of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom.
  • For the best texture, use cold butter and refrigerate the dough for the full 30 minutes before shaping.
  • Keep the dough balls small and evenly sized so they bake uniformly and develop their characteristic crunchy texture.
  • Baking times may vary depending on the size of the kruidnoten and your oven. Check toward the end of baking to prevent overbrowning.
  • Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack, as they become crispier while cooling.
  • Store cooled kruidnoten in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week to maintain their crunch.
  • Serve with coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, especially during the traditional Dutch Sinterklaas celebrations.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://yumfamilyrecipes.com/dutch-kruidnoten-recipe-traditional-dutch-spiced-cookies/