Speculoos Cookies from Alsace
Before getting into the Christmas spirit, the French from Alsace and Lorraine first get ready for the feast day of St Nicholas, on December 6. Just like in Germany and most Western Christian countries, St Nicholas Day is a big celebration in Alsace – almost as important as Christmas. Bakeries and home kitchens fill up with delicious treats such as mannalas (men-shaped chocolate-chip brioches), spiced breads and bredeles, an assortment of small cakes and Alsatian biscuits. And while there are so many of them (too many to be counted!), a…
- Prep time
- 20 min
- Cook time
- 16 min
- Yield
- 24 servings
- Difficulty
- EASY
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- ¾ cup (150g) dark brown sugar
- 1/3 cup (85g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda (4.75g)
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (1.5g)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground or freshly grated nutmeg (0.25g)
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves (0.15g)
- 1/16 teaspoon ground cardamom (0.10g)
- 1/16 teaspoon ground anise (0.10g)
- 1/2 teaspoon corn starchA pinch (1/8 tsp) salt
- 1 tablespoon water (about 1 tablespoon; 15g)
- 1 ¼ cup (155g) all-purpose flour
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- 2
In a large mixing bowl, combine brown sugar with baking soda, cinnamon, cornstarch, nutmeg, salt, cloves, cardamom, and anise. Add in the soft butter and cream together until fluffy and pale in colour, about 10 minutes.
- 3
While still creaming the butter and sugar, slowly splash in the water a little at a time. Once the water is incorporated, add the flour all at once. Mix until the dough begins to gather around your spatula (or paddle attachment, if using a stand mixer).
- 4
Turn the dough onto a clean surface, and knead gently to form a ball. Dust with flour, above and below, and roll to the thickness of about ¼inch
- 5
Cut pieces with a cookie cut-out of your choosing, and transfer the cut-outs with a spatula to a parchment-lined half sheet pan - leaving an inch between each piece to account for spread.
- 6
Bake until cookies are golden brown, about 16 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through, if needed, to ensure even browning.
- 7
Cool to room temperature directly on the baking sheet (the cookies will not crisp until fully cool).
- 8