There is little that beats the smell of freshly baked speculaas, spiced cake or apple pie in which warm spices play the leading role. Did you know you can very easily make speculaas spice mix yourself?
With a few spices from your kitchen cupboard you can assemble an aromatic mix that is often even more fragrant than a ready-made variant.
In this blog I share a classic recipe, a variant with allspice (piment) and three delicious ways to use your homemade speculaas spices.
What are speculaas spices?
Speculaas spices are a blend of different spices traditionally used in Dutch and Belgian baked goods.
Cinnamon usually forms the base, complemented by nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cardamom and mace, among others. Together they provide the warm, spicy flavor we know from speculaas and other autumn and winter recipes.
The exact composition differs by family, baker and region. That's exactly why making it yourself is so fun: you can adjust the mix to your own taste.
Recipe: classic speculaas spices
Ingredients:
- 8 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 teaspoon ground anise seed
- 1 teaspoon ground mace
- ½ to 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
Preparation
Thoroughly mix all the spices together and store the mix in a well-sealed glass jar in a cool, dry and dark place. Let the spices rest for a day before using if you like, so the flavors can blend nicely.
Variant: speculaas spices with allspice (piment)
Allspice – also called Jamaica pepper or piment – has aromas that resemble cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. That makes this spice surprisingly well suited to a speculaas mix.
Want to know more about allspice? Then read our blog "Allspice, what is it and how does it taste?"
Ingredients:
- 8 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground allspice
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground anise seed
- 1 teaspoon ground mace
- ½ teaspoon ground white pepper
This variant has a slightly rounder, fuller flavor and is delicious in cookies, cake and spiced desserts.
Tip: Don’t have time or prefer a ready-made mix: shop our Speculaas spices here
Three recipes with homemade speculaas spices
1. Speculaas cake
Mix 2 teaspoons of speculaas spices into a standard cake batter and add pieces of apple or walnuts for extra flavor. Serve with a cup of coffee or tea.
2. Roasted apple from the oven
Cut apples into wedges, toss with a little butter or oil, sprinkle 1 teaspoon of speculaas spices over them and roast for 20 minutes at 190 °C. Delicious with yogurt, oatmeal or vanilla ice cream.
3. Overnight oats with speculaas spices
Stir 1 teaspoon of speculaas spices into oats with milk or yogurt and leave overnight in the fridge. Finish with pear, apple, nuts or raisins for a spiced breakfast.
Can you use speculaas spices in savory dishes?
Although the mix is mainly known from sweet recipes, a small amount also works well in stews, pumpkin soup or a marinade for winter vegetables. Use sparingly, as the flavor is powerful.
What is the difference between speculaas spices and "koekkruiden" (biscuit/cookie spices)?
The terms are often used interchangeably, but koekkruiden are usually a bit milder and do not always contain the same proportion of spices.
Speculaas spices typically have a pronounced taste with lots of cinnamon and cloves, while koekkruiden are sometimes softer and sweeter.
Pepernoten or kruidnoten?
Around Sinterklaas the terms are often mixed up, but pepernoten and kruidnoten are not the same. Curious about the differences? Also read our blog: https://www.naturalspices.nl/blog/wat-is-het-verschil-pepernoten-kruidnoten.
Tips for storage
- Store the spice mix in an airtight glass jar.
- Place the jar in a dark and dry spot, out of direct sunlight.
- Preferably use within a year for the most intense flavor and aroma.
- Shake the jar occasionally to keep the spices well blended.
Frequently asked questions
1. How long do homemade speculaas spices keep?
If stored dry and airtight, they remain at their best for about 12 months. After that they are usually still safe to use, but the flavor gradually decreases.
2. Can I use allspice (piment) instead of cloves?
Yes, allspice has a taste that resembles cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg and is therefore a nice substitute or addition.
3. Should I use whole or ground spices?
For this recipe ground spices are the easiest. If you have whole spices, grind them finely in a spice grinder or mortar and pestle.
4. Is there sugar in speculaas spices?
No. A traditional speculaas spice mix consists solely of herbs and spices. The sweetness comes from the recipe in which you use the mix.
5. Can I give the mix as a gift?
Absolutely. Put the speculaas spices in a nice glass jar, add a handwritten label and you have an original, homemade gift for the holidays.
