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If there is another thing that defines the Holiday Season inside Netherlands, It’s the odor of Speculaas spices. It’s employed in a variety of biscuits and cakes though the following recipe is one kind of my favourites and constantly goes down well with family.
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| Dutch almond filled spiced cake |
Start of by looking into making the almond paste (called Amandel Spijs in Holland), preferable every week in advance although not strictly necessary.
Almond Paste:
200 gram Ground Almonds
200 gram Crystal or Bakers Sugar
1 Egg
2 teaspoons Almond extract
Zest of half a lemon (optional)
Combine each of the ingredients inside a bowl to make into a rough paste. Wrap in cling film and make in cool place.
Next the Speculaas spice, which in Holland is accessible ready-made. Some of the Online Dutch shops sell it off as well as “Speculaas Kruiden”. I prefer to produce my own, which is not hard to do. All are available ready ground. Aniseed can be difficult to find, so may be left out.
Speculaas Spice:
4 teaspoons Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Nutmeg
½ teaspoon Cloves
½ teaspoon Cardamom
½ teaspoon White Pepper
½ teaspoon Coriander
½ teaspoon Ginger powder
½ teaspoon Aniseed
Combine all spices and employ in recipe as directed. Be careful using the Cloves, because they have a very strong taste which enables it to quickly overpower the spice mixture. The above amounts are adequate with this recipe, you can create more to keep in the airtight jar.
Now with the dough, again extremely swift and simple.Speculaas dough:
300 gram plain flourgevspeculaas
150 gram (unsalted) butter
150 gram soft brown sugar
Approx. 2 tablespoons Speculaas spice
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons milk
Combine every one of the above ingredients in to a smooth soft dough. Divide into 2 and unveil in to 2 squares about ¾ of the centimetre thick. Place the first square using a lightly greased baking tray and spread the almond paste over it, keeping of a centimetre free on every side. Brush some beaten egg about the sides and set the second square at the top, sealing inside sides.
Preheat the oven to 180 C / 350 F and bake for 20- a half-hour.
Divide into bite size pieces and revel in.Decorate the very best with half almond and brush the remainder of the beaten egg number one.
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