Spekulatius Spekulatius is a traditional Christmas cookie that originated in the Netherlands. It is made out of a short dough (a cookie dough that is rolled out), and, similar to the Springerle cookie, it is formed by using a cookie mold. They are thin, crispy, and evenly browned.
There are 3 types of Spekulatius cookies:
Spice Spekulatius (Gewürzspekulatius): This is the most common type of Spekulatius cookie. It obtains its taste from the spices cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon.
Almond Spekulatius (Mandelspekulatius): This is a Spekulatius cookie, in which the bottom of the cookie is coated in almonds. These are also known as Mandel-Kichelchen .
Butter Spekulatius (Butterspekulatius): This is a Spekulatius cookie which is made with a high amount of butter.
| |
Photo: © Christian Jung - Fotolia.com
|
| |
|
Region
Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz)
Main Ingredients
Spices include almonds, cinnamon, butter, lemon zest, orange zest, cloves, cardamom, allspice, nutmeg, vanilla, and coriander.
Characteristics
Thin, crispy, and evenly browned.
Serving Suggestions
Store spekulatius cookies in airtight containers. This maintains their freshness and crispiness longer.
History
There are two theories about where the name Spekulatius originated. The first theory states that the name came from the Latin word Speculum, meaning "mirror." It refers to the wooden cookie mold that imparts its design onto the cookie. The second theory states that the name comes from the Latin word Speculator, meaning "bishop", "overseer", or "supervisor." The connection here is that Speculatius and Speculator sound most similiar.
Additional Information
The Spekulatius mold is typically carved from wood, although plastic molds are also available. Molds come in a variety of designs.
|
