Speculoos (Belgian Spiced Biscuits)
In short: Thin, crisp, caramel-brown biscuits flavored with cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg, baked until snappy and made for dunking in coffee. It takes about 1 h in total and makes 20 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Resting
- 2 h
- Total
- 1 h
- Servings
- 20
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 120 kcal
Speculoos are thin, crisp biscuits with a deep caramel color and a warm spice flavor, served in Belgium with coffee and around Saint Nicholas Day in early December. Dark brown sugar gives the color and a toffee note, and the spice blend is built on cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg. Rolling the dough thin and chilling it first gives sharp edges and a real snap.
Instructions
- Whisk the flour, baking powder, salt and all the spices together in a bowl.
- In another bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar for 3 minutes until fluffy and pale. Beat in the milk.
- Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until it just forms a dough. Shape into a flat disk, wrap and chill for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Heat the oven to 170°C (340°F) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll the dough out to 3 mm (1/8 in) thick on a floured counter. Cut into rectangles or shapes and place them on the sheets 2 cm (3/4 in) apart.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, switching the trays halfway, until dark golden at the edges.
- Cool on the trays for 5 minutes, then move to a rack. The biscuits crisp up as they cool. Store in an airtight tin.
Tips
- Roll the dough thin and evenly. Thick biscuits stay soft in the middle. Work with small batches and keep the rest of the dough in the fridge.
- Mix a jar of the spice blend ahead of time. Cinnamon leads, with ginger and cloves rounding it out, and fresh spices make a clear difference.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between speculoos and speculaas?
They are close relatives with overlapping spice blends. Belgian speculoos are usually thin and crisp, while Dutch speculaas is often thicker and shaped in a carved mold.
Can I freeze speculoos dough?
Yes. Wrap the dough disk tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then roll and bake.
Why are my speculoos soft?
They were probably rolled too thick or stored before they cooled fully. Cool them completely on a rack and keep them in an airtight tin.
How long does it take to make Speculoos (Belgian Spiced Biscuits)?
About 1 h in total: 30 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Speculoos (Belgian Spiced Biscuits)?
About 120 kcal per serving, with 1 g of protein, 17 g of carbohydrates and 5 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 120 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 17 g |
| Fat | 5 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 8 g |
| Sodium | 90 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
