Speculaas Spice Mix

What is speculaas spice mix?

Speculaas spice mix is a warm and aromatic Dutch spice blend made with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cardamom, aniseed, mace, and sometimes pepper. It is traditionally used in speculaas cookies, pepernoten, gevulde speculaas, and my almond cookies! The flavor is similar to pumpkin pie spice. Although they are not quite the same, you can use them as a substitute.

The history of speculaas spice mix

One of the oldest recipes for speculaas spices that I found was in a cookbook called 'de Schrandere Stichtse Keuken-meid.' This book, written in 1754, was such a success that it was still published fifty years later under the name of 'De Nieuwe, Welervarene Utrechtsche Keuken-meid.'

The most interesting thing about the older recipes is that pepper was added to the mixture at that time. Most modern recipes are without this ingredient. This cookbook used an old pepper variety called cubeb or tailed pepper. This pepper has a more floral taste than regular black pepper, but it can be hard to find.

There are also a few missing ingredients that we now almost always use, such as mace, cloves, and ginger. My recipe is a mix of the old recipe from 1745 and the modern one.

Speculaas vs speculoos

So, can you use this recipe to make traditional speculoos cookies? Well, no, not really. The names are often used interchangeably, but speculaas and speculoos are not the same cookie.

Speculaas is a cookie that is flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cardamom, mace, and cloves. It is a traditional cookie in the Netherlands and similar to spekulatius in Germany. Speculoos, or Biscoff, is a Belgian cookie that contains only cinnamon, with no other spices.

Ingredients

Cinnamon: Cinnamon is the star of this spice blend, giving speculaas its cozy, sweet, and unmistakably fall flavor. Most recipes use cassia cinnamon for its bold, warming taste, but Ceylon cinnamon offers a softer, more delicate touch. Cinnamon has a rich history in Dutch baking, brought to Europe during the 17th-century Dutch spice trade, where it quickly became a treasured staple in holiday treats.

Nutmeg: This aromatic spice has a slightly sweet, nutty taste that pairs beautifully with cinnamon and ginger. Freshly grated nutmeg gives an even richer flavor. Like cinnamon, nutmeg became common in Dutch kitchens thanks to the Dutch East India Company, and it quickly became a symbol of luxury in baked goods.

Cloves: Strong and aromatic, cloves give speculaas that unmistakable spiced kick. A little goes a long way, so balance is key.

White pepper: Adds a mild heat that balances the sweetness of the other spices. For a truly traditional 18th-century mix, use cubeb (tailed) pepper for a floral, peppery finish.

Ginger: Brings gentle heat and a touch of sweetness. It rounds out the flavor and adds warmth to cookies and cakes.

Cardamom: Adds a fresh, citrus-like note that brightens the spice mix. Both green and black cardamom work, but green is more traditional.

Aniseed: like ginger, aniseed gives the mix a sweet flavor. Sweet and slightly herbal, aniseed gives speculaas its signature Dutch bakery scent.

Variations

Orange: In the Netherlands, ready-made speculaas spice blends often contain dried orange peel. If you want to add a mild citrus flavor, you can add one teaspoon of dried, ground orange peel.

Mild: If you love the flavor but don't like the heat pepper brings to the mix, you can simply leave it out.

Ways to use speculaas spice mix

Once you've made your own speculaas spice mix, you'll find yourself adding it to just about everything. Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy it year-round:

1. Classic Dutch Cookies - Traditionally, you use this spice blend to make Dutch cookies like speculaas cookies (Dutch windmill cookies), gevulde speculaas, banketstaaf, and pepernoten. These crisp, spiced treats are a must for Sinterklaas celebrations, but they're also perfect for Christmas.

2. Cakes and Muffins - Add a few tablespoons of this spice blend to your favorite cake or muffin batter for an amazing fall flavor. I created easy speculaas banana oat muffins and a pepernoten cake to get you started.

3. Hot Drinks - Stir a pinch into your morning coffee, homemade hot chocolate, or white hot chocolate. It turns an ordinary drink into something that feels like it came from a cozy café. For an extra treat, top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of speculaaskruiden.

4. Breakfast Favorites - Mix the spice blend into pancake or waffle batter, use the blend instead of cinnamon in French toast, or stir into oatmeal or overnight oats. It's a quick way to bring festive flavor to your morning.

5. Ice Cream and Desserts - Fold into vanilla ice cream, vanilla custard, or whipped cream. Or use it to make my speculaas crumble, speculaas apple pie, and speculaas cheesecake!

6. Savory Dishes - While it's mostly used in sweets, a small pinch can bring depth to stews, roasted vegetables, or even a spice rub for meats.

7. Holiday Gifts - Package your homemade spice mix in pretty jars and tie them with ribbon. Add a tag with a simple speculaas cookie recipe, and you have a great hostess gift for friends and family.

Frequently asked questions

Storage

Homemade speculaas spice mix will keep for more than a year when stored in an airtight container. It is best to store the spice mix in a cool and dark place. Most mixes can be used after a year, but the spices' flavor will deteriorate, so you might need to add more.