Dutch Spice Mix (AKA Speculaaskruiden) - Easy Homemade Recipe (2024)

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This traditional Dutch Spice Mix Recipe (aka speculaaskruiden or speculaas spices) is so easy to make using ingredients that you probably already have in your store cupboard (if you bake regularly). And with a batch of this on hand, you are set to go with a staple spice mix that is used in many popular Dutch sweet baking recipes.

Dutch Spice Mix (AKA Speculaaskruiden) - Easy Homemade Recipe (1)
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A few years ago I shared a recipe for Dutch Pepernoten (mini Dutch spiced cookies) and I promised the recipe for the spice mix would follow.

It is only when I went to make a new spice mix-up ready for all the popular Dutch baking recipes that feature during this time of year (pepernoten, speculaas, etc) that I realised I had not shared it with you guys.

Where To Buy Dutch Speculaas Spices

Here in the Netherlands, you can easily buy this blend of spices in the Supermarkets but elsewhere you need to either purchase it at a specialist shop or buy it online.

Dutch Spice Mix (AKA Speculaaskruiden) - Easy Homemade Recipe (2)

Dutch Speculaas Spice Mix Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes

Servings: 3 Small Jars

Calories: 100kcal

Author: Sam Franklin

This is an easy recipe to make a blend of spices that is frequently used in many traditional Dutch baking recipes such as Speculaas, Pepernoten, Kruidnoten to name but a few.

Print Recipe

Equipment

  • Air Tight Spice Jars

Ingredients

  • 10 tbsp Cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp Nutmeg
  • 2 tbsp Ground Cloves
  • 1 tbsp Ground Ginger
  • ½ tbsp Ground Cardamom

Instructions

  • Prepare airtight spice jars by cleaning them and adding labels.

  • In a large bowl simply measure out all the spices and mix.

  • Divide the spice mix between the spice jars and seal.

Notes

The amounts shown in this recipe make enough spice mix to fill 3 small spice pots.

There are many versions of this recipe here in the Netherlands and many bakeries have there own secret recipies.

This basic recipe can also be adapted to suit your own personal taste.

For example, if you are not so keen on cardamom then just leave it out or you really love ginger then you can simply increase the amount you put in.

*Optional*

Another optional ingredient that you often see is white pepper. I didn’t use this in my mix but if you want to spice it up a bit then you can add half a tablespoon to give it a bit of bite.

Nutrition

Calories: 100kcal

Dutch Spice Mix (AKA Speculaaskruiden) - Easy Homemade Recipe (3)

What To Bake With Your Dutch Spice Mix

Now that you have the basic recipe for this why not try making my traditional Dutch Pepernoten Recipe (Mini Spice Cookies)?This recipe is so easy and a lot of fun to make with the kids as their little fingers are perfect for rolling all the little round dough balls.

Dutch Spice Mix (AKA Speculaaskruiden) - Easy Homemade Recipe (4)

The kids here in the Netherlands go mad for them and eat them by the bucket load.

This is usually leading up to Sinterklaas (the Dutch Father Christmas) arriving in the country on his steamboat from Spain (this year it falls on the 16th of November) to when he brings them gifts on pakjesavond (present evening) which is on the 5th of December.

Once Sinterklaas has arrived in the land the kids are allowed to put their shoes out by the fireplace every Saturday night until pakjesavond.If they have been good the shoes will be filled with pepernoten and small gifts.

And Honestly, these are so yummy you will totally understand why the Dutch kids go crazy for them.

More Dutch Recipes …

In the Netherlands, another base ingredient that is used in many Dutch recipes is Amandelspjis (Almond Paste). This can be used to make many cookies, cakes, pastries, and dessert recipes. Here is a recipe to make a delicious homemade version

Dutch Spice Mix (AKA Speculaaskruiden) - Easy Homemade Recipe (5)

Another Dutch recipe that is great for kids and a total crowd-pleaser for parties and fetes is my Traditional Dutch Poffertjes Recipe. Not only are they easy to make but the topping combination ideas are endless.

And of course, if we are talking about recipes from the Netherlands then we can’t forget the classic Dutch Apple Piewhich is often served in cafes and during birthday celebrations, and the Gevulde Koek (Ductch almond Cookie) which is a real National favourite.

Dutch Spice Mix (AKA Speculaaskruiden) - Easy Homemade Recipe (7)

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Dutch Spice Mix (AKA Speculaaskruiden) - Easy Homemade Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Dutch Spice Mix (AKA Speculaaskruiden) - Easy Homemade Recipe? ›

Like I said, each baker used to have their own special blend of Speculaas Spices. All mixes do include at least, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, aniseed, white pepper and coriander. Next to that people are known to add ginger, cardamom and mace.

What is speculaas spice made of? ›

Like I said, each baker used to have their own special blend of Speculaas Spices. All mixes do include at least, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, aniseed, white pepper and coriander. Next to that people are known to add ginger, cardamom and mace.

What does speculaas mean in Dutch? ›

Speculaas (Dutch: speculaas, French: spéculoos, [spekylos], German: Spekulatius) is a type of spiced shortcrust biscuit baked with speculaas spices originated from the County of Flanders territory in present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands.

What spices are used in Dutch cooking? ›

Most traditional recipes in Dutch cuisine call for spices (kruiden) that the Dutch East India Company (VOC) began trading during the Golden Age. These include cloves (kruidnagel), cinnamon (kaneel), and nutmeg (nootmuskaat).

What is spice mix made of? ›

What is Mixed Spice? Unlike allspice, mixed spice is a blend of several spices. These include cinnamon, coriander, caraway, nutmeg, ground ginger and cloves. The majority of the mix should be made from the cinnamon and coriander, and the remaining 10% made from the other spices.

What is the difference between speculoos and speculaas? ›

Speculaas and speculoos are 2 different biscuits. Speculaas is typical cookie from the Netherlands based on the specific flavour of "speculaas"herbs. At Lotus Bakeries, we produce Speculoos, a biscuit that obtains it taste by the special production proces of the karamelisation of sugar in the biscuit.

What is Dutch company speculaas? ›

These spiced cookies comes in a variety of shapes with the flavours of ginger and cardamom. INGREDIENTS: Wheat flour sugar vegetable oil (palm rapeseed) speculoos spices (cinnamon nutmeg clove allspice ginger coriander mace cardamom) raising agent (sodium bicarbonate disodium pyrophosphate) sodium invert sugar syrup.

Does speculaas have ginger in it? ›

Speculoos is a heavenly Dutch spice mix made up of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, ginger and white pepper that imparts a wonderful aroma to cookies. If gingerbread or pumpkin pie spice is your sort of thing, then speculoos is king!

What is nutmeg in Dutch? ›

nootmuskaat. (Translation of nutmeg from the PASSWORD English–Dutch Dictionary © 2022 K Dictionaries Ltd)

What is the most iconic Dutch food? ›

1. Poffertjes. Probably one of the most famous Dutch dishes, Poffertjes are small pancakes, baked in an iron skillet, and traditionally served with melted butter and dusted with icing sugar.

Why does food taste better in a Dutch oven? ›

One of the main benefits of using a Dutch oven is its ability to retain heat over a long period. Its lid design helps to trap steam and retain moisture for more flavorful, juicy dishes.

What spices did the Dutch control? ›

For a time in the seventeenth century, it was able to monopolise the trade in nutmeg, mace, and cloves and to sell these spices across European kingdoms and Emperor Akbar the Great's Mughal Empire at 14–17 times the price it paid in Indonesia; while Dutch profits soared, the local economy of the Spice Islands was ...

What can I use instead of 5 spices? ›

Whilst you're never going to get the classic flavour that Chinese 5 spice provides with a substitute, there are some seasonings that come pretty close. Star anise, allspice, garam masala, sichuan peppercorns and cinnamon sticks are all worthy replacements – but the real stuff is always best!

What are the most popular spices in the world? ›

Basil , black pepper , cardamom , chile peppers , cilantro , cinnamon , Vietnamese cinnamon , cloves , cumin , garlic , ginger , lemongrass , lime , mace , mint, nutmeg , shallots , turmeric and white pepper .

What's the difference between speculaas and gingerbread? ›

This is a Dutch spice shortcrust cookie. In German they are called Spekulatius. The spices are very similar to gingerbread, but the ginger isn't the predominant flavour. Also white pepper and anise seed are included.

What is speculoos made out of? ›

Speculoos (French: spéculoos, German: Karamellgebäck) is a biscuit, originally manufactured in Belgium, made from wheat flour, candy syrup (from beet sugar), fat, and sometimes cinnamon.

What does Spekulatius taste like? ›

Spekulatius are a classic German Christmas cookie which not only has a long tradition dating back to about the 15th century, but it is also known for its depth of spices of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cardamon.

References

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