Learn to make Speculaasbrokken – a thick, crunchy speculaas cookie, broken into delightful chunks. These treats hold a special place in Dutch hearts, especially around Sinterklaas, the cherished holiday for kids in The Netherlands.
As the scent of warm spices fills the air, memories flood back to the joyous Sinterklaas celebrations of my youth. I vividly recall our upstairs neighbor, whom I affectionately called aunt, transforming our home into a haven of Speculaasbrokken goodness each festive season. The anticipation, the laughter, the exchange of gifts – these cookies are more than a sweet treat; they are a connection to those precious moments.
And now, I invite you to join me in this culinary adventure. Let’s not just bake Speculaasbrokken; let’s weave stories around them. Share your memories, tales from your family, or the excitement of Sinterklaas celebrations intertwined with the aroma of these spiced delights. Together, let’s create a tapestry of heartwarming recollections that go beyond the kitchen, capturing the essence of the Dutch holiday spirit.
Get ready to break the cookie mold and delve into the rich tradition of Speculaasbrokken, where every chunk tells a tale of family, joy, and the enchantment of Sinterklaas.
Ingredients
Speculaasbrokken Dough
- 350 g Self-Rising Flour
- 175 g Unsalted Butter Cold, cut into small pieces
- 185 g Brown Sugar
- 20 g Speculaaskruiden
- 1 pinch Salt
- 40 ml Whole Milk
To Finish
- 30 ml Heavy Cream
- Almond Slivers
EQUIPMENT
NUTRITION
Disclaimer
Nutrition Facts provided are a calculated estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Instructions
Making the Dough
- In your stand mixer with the paddle attachment, mix together the flour, salt, sugar, and speculaaskruiden.If your brown sugar is clumped together, you may have to break it apart with a spatula.
- Once it's all mixed together, add the butter, and mix on slow until the butter is incorporate. The dough should be crumbly at this point.
- Add the milk, and continue mixing until the dough starts to form a ball.
- Briefly knead it by hand to make it all come together.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap, and let it rest in the fridge for at least 1 hour, but it's even better to do it overnight. The longer you let it rest, the more it will develop the flavors of the spices in the dough.
Shaping the Dough
- Preheat your oven to 170ºC (340 F), and prepare a cookie sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
- (If you let the dough rest overnight, you want to take it out an hour before rolling it out - otherwise it will be too hard to roll out).On a floured surface, roll the dough out to a slab that is approximately 1cm (⅜ inch) thick. I use a rolling pin with thickness guides on it.
- Transfer the rolled out dough to a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Put almond slivers on top of the dough, and gently push them to make sure they do not fall off / move.
- Brush the top with the heavy cream until the entire surface is covered.
- Put the cookie sheet in the oven, and bake it for 30 minutes.
- When the speculaas is done baking, remove it from the cookie sheet, and let it cool off on a rack.
Making Speculaasbrokken - The Last Step
- After the speculaas is cooled off, break it into chunks, and serve to your guests!
Thanks for publishing all these recipes for us! I’ve made Speculaasbrokken once now, and everybody loved it. This week I’m making two batches, because I have two events coming up that I want to bring them to. One question – I’m going to keep the dough in the refrigerator for several days because my events are next weekend, but I’m wondering whether I could even freeze the dough, if I ever want to keep it for longer than a few days. Do you think that would work?
I have never done it, but I believe you can… wrap the ball tightly in plastic wrap, and then store that in an airtight container in the freezer.