SPECULAAS (Dutch Spice Biscuits)

[trudy]

SPECULAAS

These biscuits are wonderful for Christmas and they also keep well.  You need to make the spice mix first but this keeps well and then the rest comes together quickly with the help of the TM.  Makes Approx 75 / 6cm biscuits)

Spice Mix:-   4 tablespoons cinnamon
                 3 teaspoons ground cloves
                  1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
                  1 teaspoon ground ginger
                  1/3 teaspoon ground aniseed
                  2/3 teaspoon ground coriander

Other ingredients:-
375g soft butter
300g soft brown sugar
pinch salt
rind of one lemon
500g Self Raising Flour
25g spice mix

Method:-

Place the sugar and lemon rind in the TM and blitz till rind is finely chopped.
Add butter.  Blitz for about 10 secs to combine.
Add all other ingredients (salt, spice mix and flour) and mix on the knead setting until the dough comes together (about 2 mins)
Place in fridge for about 10 minutes to firm up.
If using moulds sprinkle them first with rice flour and press in the dough.
I just roll out the dough(flour bench well) and cut into rounds with a biscuit cutter, top with half a blanched almond.
Bake for 15 minutes appox in a mod oven.

They go crisp on cooling.  If you would prefer a softer biscuit then don't cook as long.

members' comments

ES - the recipe made heaps of biscuits. I made up the spice mix using the tablespoon measuring set that I have - a tablespoon is 15ml and the teaspoon is 5 ml. I didn't have quite enough cinnamon in the cupboard, so I substituted about a teaspoon of cardamom powder, and l used star anise in place of the aniseed. When I measured the spice mix, it came to exactly 25g - I don't have any left over.
I started off using a mould, but it was slow going, so I rolled out the remaining half of the dough and cut out shapes.
They are yummy. I was worried that they would be too spicy, but they're not. I have to hide them from DH and the kids as they keep eating them.

Wonder - I've made these tonight and while they are nice I think I prefer the recipe from Devil of a Cookbook. I found the dough very soft and spread on cooking so they have held their shape well. I'll leave the mixture in the fridge for a while longer but don't think they are going to go very well using my stamp. I'm not sure what I did wrong as I thought I followed the recipe exactly.
Don't think the kids will like them either so I might have a lot of mixture left over.





                  

[judydawn]

I have used fennel as a replacement for aniseed in something (?) Trudy so I imagine it could be used here too. Aniseed is not easy to get in my neck of the woods.

[trudy]

Hi Judy,  I also could get it at Woolworths but had no trouble at Foodland.   They have it in packets (Menora brand) 17g but it's whole so have to crush it.  I had some that I got from Herbies.

[judydawn]

Thanks Trudes, I will check it out.

[trudy]

Judy, let me know if you want me to send you some.

[judydawn]

Thanks Trudy, will see how I go.

[snappy]

I just saw a recipe for these spice biscuits in the SBS Feast magazine and they look delicious - thanks for a thermomix version.  I would love to find one of the gorgeous molds they use!

[JulieO]

These look great Trudy.  Just checking that the tablespoons are 20ml? 

[trudy]

Hi Julie,  Just had to look as I just grabbed the nearest tablespoon.  Yes it was a 20ml one.  Have just made a batch of these and the house smells like Christmas!!!!  Hope you like them.

[JulieO]

Thanks Trudy. 

[teagg]

Just bumping this thread (thanks Trudy!) as it's getting to be that time of year again!!!!
Gillianx 
(gosh it's much easier typing this on a laptop than on a phone in bed!!!!)

[cookie1]

Thanks teagg. Will make these so that I can make Tenina's icecream.

[Kimmyh]

Thanks teagg. Will make these so that I can make Tenina's icecream.

Me too. Thanks.

[cookie1]

I will hang  my head in shame, I saw them in Woolies and bought them.  Now for the icecream.

[JulieO]

I bought some too yesterday Cookie.