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