Kruidnoten Recipe – The Dutch Christmas Cookie
Kruidnoten, and its evil twin Pepernoten, is symbol of Christmas time in the Netherlands. These little Dutch spice cookies start appearing in stores in late October and are a sign that Sinterklaas is coming. Sinterklaas is St Nicholas, and his band of merry and mischievous helpers are called Zwarte Piets. It is the Zwarte Piets that hands out Kruidnoten to the little children who cups their hands and receive the baked gifts with glee. Dutch children leave their shoes near the fireplace or radiator on Dec 5th in hopes that Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piets will fill them up with candy. In return the children will leave a carrot for Sinterklass’ horse and maybe even some Kruidnoter or Pepernoten for old Sint himself.
Kruidnoten and Pepernoten and very small cookies, bite size in fact. Pepernoten are the “spicier” of the two with a handful of more flavor spices than kruidnoten. In appearance, both cookies should be no bigger than the size of a US 25 cent quarter or a 2 euro coin. They are dense so despite their size they do take a bit longer in the oven than you would think. They should be a medium to dark golden brown.
You can variations to kruidnoten, but pepernoten already have a symphony of spices in them. Besides if you made pepernoten, you made them for the spice mixture in them so why sully it with anything else.
Kruidnoten are often found dipped in milk, dark and white chocolate. Along with some plain kruidnoten, this mixture of color looks fantastic in a large bowl.
The following Dutch cookie recipes will yield around 200 little cookies. Half the recipe if this is too many.
KRUIDNOTEN RECIPE
Dough: 10minutes
Rolling little balls: 30 min
Baking: 15 minutes
Yields: 200 Kruidnoten
Dough
4 cups of self rising flour
2 cup of brown sugar
2 sticks of softened butter (1.5 cups)
4 Tbsp milk (or water)
Spices
2 Tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp ground cardamom
1 tsp ground ginger
large pinch of salt
Instructions
Put the flour, salt and the spices into a bowl and mix until combined.
Mix brown sugar, butter & milk in a seperate bowl, then add into flour spice mixture.
Knead until you’ve got a nice soft dough, which is slightly sticky. If too wet add flour. If too dry add milk or water.
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C)
Roll the dough into small balls. About 1/2″-3/4″ (1cm-2cm)
Place the balls on the baking sheet giving each a light press. Leave space between balls so they don’t bake together
Bake the kruidnoten for 15 to 17 minutes.
Variations:
You can divide the dough into halves or quarters and add the following:
Use the amounts listed if dividing in quarters. Double the amount if using halves.
2 tablespoon Cinnamon
or
2 Tablespoon Cardamon
or
2 Tablespoons Orange Zest
or
2 Tablespoons Honey
You can also use combinations. For example 1 Tablespoon each of Cinnamon & Honey for a quarter, or 2Tbs of each for a half.
PEPERNOTEN RECIPE
Dough: 10minutes
Rolling little balls: 30 min
Baking: 15 minutes
Yields: 200 Kruidnoten
Dough
4 cup self raising flour
4 tablespoon milk
2 sticks of butter
2 cup brown sugar
2 cup white sugar
Spices
3 Tablespoon cinnamon
1 Tablespoon ground nutmeg
1 Tablespoon ground cloves
2 teaspoon ground aniseed
2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon corriander
1 teaspoon of white pepper
large pinch of salt
Instructions
Put the flour, salt and the spices into a bowl and mix until combined.
Mix brown sugar, white sugar, butter & milk in a seperate bowl, then add into flour spice mixture.
Knead until you’ve got a nice soft dough, which is slightly sticky. If too wet add flour. If too dry add milk or water.
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C)
Roll the dough into small balls. About 1/2″-3/4″ (1cm-2cm)
Place the balls on the baking sheet giving each a light press. Leave space between balls so they don’t bake together
Bake the pepernoten for 15 to 17 minutes.
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