Spiced Star Cookies (Speculaas)
Speculaas are traditionally thin, crisp, dark-brown windmill-shaped cookies that originated in the Netherlands. We believe, and our Cookie Companion is a testament, that you don't need a mold to be able to enjoy these snapping crisp, delightfully spicy cookies. Try rolling out the dough and using your favorite cutters to make cookies that are just as elegant and fun.
- Prep time
- 15 min
- Cook time
- 20 min
- Yield
- 24 servings
- Difficulty
- HARD
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 8 tablespoons (113g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3/4 cup (159g) light brown sugar or dark brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon King Arthur Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 teaspoon cardamom*
- 1/2 teaspoon cloves*
- 1/2 teaspoon mace* (or substitute 1/2 teaspoon [product-link]nutmeg[/product-link])
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon*
- 1/2 teaspoon table salt
- 1 1/2 cups (180g) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 cup (48g) King Arthur Almond Flour, toasted almond flour preferred
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 to 4 tablespoons (28g to 57g) milk, not nonfat
- 1/2 cup (57g) confectioners' sugar
- 3 to 4 teaspoons milk or water
Instructions
- 1
To make the cookies: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter, sugar, vanilla, spices, and salt.
- 2
Stir in the flour, almond flour, and baking powder, then enough of the milk to make a stiff dough.
- 3
Form the dough into two disks, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 2 hours or more.
- 4
Preheat the oven to 325°F. Lightly grease, or line with parchment, two baking sheets.
- 5
Working with one disk at a time, roll the dough 1/8" to 1/4" thick. Cut out shapes using your desired cutters, and transfer the cookies to the prepared pans.
- 6
Bake the cookies for 15 to 20 minutes, until they're lightly browned around the edges. Remove them from the oven and transfer them to a rack to cool. As they cool, they'll become quite hard.
- 7
To make the icing: Stir together the sugar and enough milk or water to create a thick but "drizzle-able" icing.
- 8
Drizzle the icing atop the cookies decoratively.
- 9
Storage information: Store leftover speculaas, well wrapped, at room temperature for several days; freeze for longer storage.