How to make Speculaas Spice Mix

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Learn how to make Speculaas Spice Mix that you can keep in a handy jar on the kitchen shelf, ready to add a teaspoon or two to your cakes, desserts, puddings, and biscuits.

Try using Speculaas in homemade rice pudding, mulled wine, or baked custard tarts, anywhere, where mixed spice is required. It will also work well in this Lebkuchen Shortbread recipe which uses another similar spice mix.

What is Speculaas?

Speculaas is a mix of aromatic spices such as;

• cinnamon
• mace
• cloves
• ginger
• nutmeg
• white pepper
• cardamom
• star anise

It is very easy to make, although you may need to grind some of these spices in a spice grinder or Mortar and Pestle before blending them together as they are often sold and used whole.

Once you have gathered all your ingredients together it is very easy to make and shares many of the same ingredients as Mixed Spice which is more often used in British Baking.

Many Dutch families have their own Speculaas recipes, often handed down from generation to generation and tweaked to personal taste. In November new batches are made using the freshest ingredients, ready to make Speculaas cakes that are traditionally made in December, filling the whole house with festive cheer and fragrance.

How to make a Spice Mix.

The task couldn't be simpler. Add all the ingredients into a bowl, ensure all the spices are thoroughly mixed together. Scoop the spices into small airtight containers.

This amount for this particular recipe will make approx 5 – 6 teaspoons of Spice Mix. Double up as required. Don't forget to label your jars with the name of your mixture and the date you made it.

Your Speculaas Spice mix is ready to use and will keep for several months. Here's a few recipes to help get you started.

• Lebkuchen Shortbread
• Nordic Spice Cake Recipe
• Spiced Banana and Hazelnut Loaf
• Easy Apple Cake Recipe