I don’t know about you but this time of the year I am always itching to get into the kitchen and make holiday cookies. This year we decided to add some non-traditional (to us) cookies to the mix. Pepernoten – Dutch Holiday Cookies are delicious, bite-sized, spicy cookies are traditionally eaten for the holiday of Sinterklaas.
Making Pepernoten – Dutch Holiday Cookies
Let me give you a little background why I decided to whip these Pepernoten cookies up this year. Jeremy’s sister and her family live in Amsterdam, and while we do not get to see them very often we do love sharing some of the traditions that they celebrate with our kids. One of the traditions that we talk about often with Jude and Teagan is how their cousins celebrate Sinterklaas. These particular treats are often enjoyed on Sinterklaas.
What Is Sinterklaas?
Sinterklaas (short: de Sint, formally: Sint Nicolaas) is an important holiday in the Netherlands on the 5th of December. Sinterklaas is an elderly, stately and serious man with white hair and a long, full beard, supposed to live in Spain. The 6th of December is his birthday, so the 5th of December he hands out gifts to all the children in the Netherlands.
Easy Pepernoten – Dutch Holiday Cookie Recipe
I have to be honest, when I first saw this recipe I was bit nervous as it was a completely different cookie recipe that I had never tried or made on my own but it was so easy and they turned out delicious. These bite-sized, spicy cookies are great because while they are a treat they are not overly sweet. This particular recipe made 50 cookies.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter – softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 tsp speculaas spice
Pinch of salt
1 1/4 cup self-rising flour
3 TBSP milk
4 TBSP sugar
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Cream butter, brown sugar, speculaas spice and salt together in a medium mixing bowl.
3. Add the self-raising flour and mix well. You might have to get your fingers messy and use your hands for this one.
4. Add the milk a TBSP at a time, mixing after. When the dough is smooth, enough milk is added.
5. Form the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and leave to rest for at least one hour in the fridge.
6. Prepare baking sheets with baking spray and begin making small balls of the dough. No bigger than an inch.
7. Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheets keeping them spread out as they will bake larger.
8. Sprinkle sugar on top of each dough ball.
9. Bake at 325 degrees for 12 minutes. Once baked, remove from baking sheet and let cool.
Don’t the Pepernoten – Dutch Holiday Cookies look amazing? And they are so easy to make. The perfect cookie to whip up for the holiday gatherings because they make so many treats. I was so excited to share these cookies with the kids and let them experience some more traditions that their cousins are experiencing every year. It is a great way to have our families connect, even over the ocean!
Which traditions do you like to bring into your home during the holiday season?
Post contains affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase through my link, Amazon will pay me a commission for it. This doesn’t cost you anything additional. These commissions help to keep the rest of my content free, so thank you!
You know, I’ve heard of speculaas, but never used it. I know it has a spicy taste, like cinnamon. I need to try these!
Looks so yummy! Thank you for the recipe
I have never heard of these before. They sound delicious!
I am not sure if I have ever had these cookies before and they sure sound good. I am going to have to try this recipe thanks for sharing.
I think I may have tried something like this before. I may have to bake some to see if they taste like I remember.
I don’t think I’ve ever tried these, but they do look good! I have to try this recipe!
I would love to make these for our family Christmas cookie exchange!