First I must apologise for the unexpected hiatus with the blog last week.
It all started the previous weekend, when the things I had made with all of you in mind didn’t turn out quite as I had hoped and I really wasn’t happy to share them in the state they were in.
My sister and I also had a couple of days off work and we had planned lots of fun activities to do. Unfortunately she came down with a stinky cold. That she then, very kindly, passed on to me.
I’m still a little groggy, but things are returning to normal and I managed to make it into the kitchen to make something that wasn’t thrown together purely for sustenance’s sake.
I’m using this spice mix in a recipe later in the week, but I wanted to share it with you separately, as it will most likely make an appearance in several other recipes.
Speculaas Kruiden is a Dutch blend of spices most typically used to flavour those delicious little Speculaas biscuits (or Biscoff biscuits as some of you may know them as), however it can also be used in cakes and apple pie.
It’s heady and fragrant and combines almost all of my favourite spices.
Most Dutch households have their own recipes for this spice mix (although you can also buy it pre-mixed in Dutch supermarkets) and many contain star anise. I have to confess that I leave it out of my mix, because I’m not a fan of aniseed (unless there are carrots involved). Feel free to add a pinch in if you wish.
Keep the mix in a little air-tight container / jar, along with all your other herbs and spices, and add it to whatever you like.
Speculaas Kruiden (Dutch Spice Mix)
Ingredients:
- 4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground mace
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg (you can use ground nutmeg if you prefer)
- Pinch of ground white pepper
- Pinch of ground green cardamom
Method:
- Mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Transfer into an air-tight container.
The Pink Rose Bakery 
I just love Speculaas cookies, so happy to have found a spice mix recipe on your site 🙂
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I’m pleased you found it too. It’s very useful to have 🙂
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Zaalig! The taste of my childhood. My mother was Dutch and my kitchen is never without it.
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I wondered what the Dutch connection was, now I know!
I spent every school holiday from the age of 8 to 18 in Holland. We very nearly emigrated over there. So I have eaten a lot of this stuff and I love it! The country has a very special place in my heart.
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I have a lot of family there; two sisters and a brother, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins, and until a year ago, an aunt. I’m very, very attached to the place! And if you can come up with a GF ontbijtkoek recipe, you’ll have a friend for life!
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I have to confess that I had to look up ontbijtkoek. I know it as kruidenkoek. I was never that in to it, but it is one of Mum’s favourites, especially the one with the rock sugar on the outside. However, looking at it again, I’m thinking I need to have a go at making it. I’ve found a good recipe, so I’ll give it a go and see what happens!
I yearn for GF versions of boterkoek and poffertjes . . .
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But proper poffertjes should be made with buckwheat flour, which IS gluten free… Boterkoek I don’t like so much. Appelflappen, oliebollen, all that greasy yummyness… And I’m with your Mum on the rock sugar on top!
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Really? REALLY? I always automatically assumed they were made with wheat flour. Right, I am off to investigate in a moment . . .
Did you have to mention olibollen. We had a nasty experience with them. Someone made some one Christmas, but they went a bit nuts and they were everywhere – in the fridge, covering every work top and shelf. We couldn’t move without coming face to face with an oliebollen. Needless to say I can’t look at them in the same way any more!
I’m also a huge fan of vla. Specifically dubvel vla – chocolate and vanilla. Yum, yum.
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No, no! Hopjes vla!
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Ha! Love hopjes sweets, not so keen on the vla.
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Oh delicious, I could imagine I’d just be chucking this into everything, the flavours are just so good! I’ve been baking with the spreads recently, cheating a bit, but still tasty. Hope you shift your cold soon x
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Me too. I have a good day and think it is going and then the next day I feel worse again!
The spreads are very tasty and definitely a good substitute x
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