Speculaas dough
250 grams (1/2 lb; 1-2/3 cups) plain flour
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
l/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/4 tsp. ground aniseed
150 g (5 oz; 2/3 cup) butter
100 g (3 oz; 1/2 cup) soft brown sugar
3 tbsp. milk
20 blanched almonds
1 tbsp. Cream
Sieve the flour with the baking powder, salt and all the spices.
Cream the butter and sugar; mix in the flour and spices, adding the milk, until a soft dough is formed.
Cover the dough and leave in a cool place for a few hours, or overnight.
Preheat the oven to 175�C/350�F.
Halve the almonds.
On a greased baking sheet roll out the dough into a thick rectangle, approximately 20 x 25 cm (8 x 10 inches).
Brush with a little cream and press the halved almonds into the dough.
Bake for one hour.
Remove from the oven and leave the biscuit to cool on a wire rack
PRESENTATION
� Break into brokken - pieces.
Gevulde Speculaas - Spicy Biscuits with Almond Filling
INGREDIENTS for a 20 cm (8 inch) square cake tin
For the almond paste
150 grams (5 oz; 1 1/2 cups) ground almonds
125 grams (4 oz; 1 1/4 cups) icing sugar
1 tsp. grated lemon zest
1 small egg
1 recipe of speculaas dough (see previous recipe)
1 tbsp. cream
10 blanched almonds for decoration
Preheat oven to 175�C /350�F.
To make the almond paste: Mix the ground almonds, sugar lemon zest and egg to form a stiff paste, cover and chill for at least an hour.
To make the speculaas dough: See previous recipe for ingredients and preparation.
To assemble the speculaas: Sprinkle a work surface with icing sugar and roll out the paste to the size of the tin, set aside.
Divide the speculaas dough in half. Roll each half to fit the tin.
Press one half of the dough into a greased cake tin, put the almond layer on top, then lay the remaining dough on top.
Brush with the cream; cut the blanched almonds in half and press into the dough.
Bake for 45 minutes at 160�c /320�F.
Cool in the tin before turning out.
PRESENTATION
� Cut into small squares.
| here you go i have a lot of dutch cook books because i go every year in fact i am going again this april -------Original Message------- Date: 02/22/06 12:21:15 Subject: Famous Recipes - need recipe I am looking for a recipe for a cookie recipe from the Netherlands... called a "Speculaas" or perhaps "Parliament cake". This is cooked in a mold to make the shape, rather than being cut. If anyone has such, please post or email directly to me. Thanks! Terri in NC |