Dutch spiced biscuits (speculaas)

Traditionally, these are made using an ornate mould; you can find these from cake decorating shops and Middle Eastern food shops. Or, just make plain rounds.

• makes

  15

• prep

  20 minutes

• cook

  20 minutes

• difficulty

  Easy

Ingredients

• 250 g plain flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 150 g (firmly packed) brown sugar
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp each ground nutmeg, ginger and cardamom
• ½ tsp ground cloves
• 150 g cold unsalted butter
• rice flour (optional), to dust

Chilling time 50 minutes

Instructions

Process flour, baking powder, sugar, spices, ¼ tsp salt and butter in a food processor until mixture forms fine breadcrumbs. Add 1 tbsp iced water and process until mixture just comes together. Turn out onto a work surface, form into a ball, cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm.

Preheat oven to 170°C. Line an oven tray with baking paper. Roll dough into golf ball-size balls and press into a 6 cm-round mould dusted with rice flour. (If you’re not using a mould, simply flatten the portions with the palm of your hand to form rounds.) Trim excess dough, then turn out onto the lined tray and repeat with remaining dough, dusting the mould between each batch. Refrigerate for 20 minutes to help the biscuits keep their shape. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Store biscuits in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

As seen in Feast magazine, Issue 4, pg94.

Photography by John Laurie.

Cook's Notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.