Sinterklaas in the Netherlands is a magical time that lights up winter evenings with nostalgia, excitement, and the scent of spices. Every year on the evening of December 5th, families across the country celebrate Sinterklaasavond or Pakjesavond (Gift Evening), when the legendary figure Sinterklaas and his helpers bring gifts to children who have been eagerly awaiting his arrival.
The festivities begin much earlier, usually in mid-November, when Sinterklaas arrives in the Netherlands from Spain. Each year, a different city hosts his official arrival, which is broadcast on national television, capturing the attention of children everywhere. Sinterklaas disembarks from his steamboat with his helpers by his side, while his white horse, Amerigo, waits to carry him through the streets. Children line up to greet him, singing traditional Sinterklaas songs, and his helpers throw pepernoten into the crowd.
In the days leading up to Sinterklaasavond, children leave their shoes out at the hearth before bed, with a small treat for Amerigo. If they’re lucky, they find chocolate coins, pepernoten (small, spiced cookies), or even small toys in their shoes the next morning. As December 5th approaches, excitement fills the air, with every child hoping that Sinterklaas and his helpers won’t forget their home.
Oud Hollandse Pepernoten: Traditional Dutch Spiced Bites for the Sinterklaas Season
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Sift both types of flour and the baking powder together into the bowl of your stand mixer. This step helps create a smooth, uniform dough.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the honey, stroop, speculaaskruiden, salt, and egg yolk until they form a smooth, fragrant mixture.
- Attach the dough hook to your mixer and start it on a slow setting. Gradually pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients, allowing it to combine as the mixer runs. Let the mixer knead the dough until it’s smooth, then finish kneading by hand if needed. You may have to add a little bit of water to the dough for the dough to come together.
- I always finish kneading this by hand, as the mixer never really gets it to combine.
- Shape the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and let it rest in the fridge for at least two hours. This chilling time is essential for developing the flavors and achieving that perfect texture.
- Set your oven to 180ºC (350°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Dust your work surface with some flour, and rub flour on your rolling pin.
- Roll the dough out to about 1 cm (3/8”) thickness. Cut the dough into 2 cm (3/4”) strips, then cut each strip into small, roughly cube-shaped pieces, about the size of a sugar cube. For an old-fashioned, artisanal look, don’t worry about perfect squares—irregular cuts give them that charming, rustic feel.
- Arrange the pepernoten on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10–13 minutes, or until golden brown. I like to check around the 7 or 8-minute mark to ensure they’re baking evenly.
- Let the pepernoten cool slightly on a rack before sneaking a warm one for yourself—it’s a taste of Sinterklaas magic. This holiday season, your homemade pepernoten will bring a little extra wonder to each morning surprise. Happy Sinterklaas!
I recently tried your Oud Hollandse Pepernoten recipe, and it was a hit! The post does a great job of blending tradition with a quicker method that’s perfect for busy schedules. The instructions were clear and easy to follow, and the flavors were spot on—warm, spiced, and just the right amount of sweetness. My kitchen smelled amazing, and it truly captured that cozy Sinterklaas feeling. Highly recommend if you’re craving a taste of Dutch holidays!