Holiday Cookies Spiced Speculaas Recipe

Holiday Cookies Spiced Speculaas Recipe

• 8 oz. all purpose sugar
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• ½ tsp. ground ginger
• ½ tsp. grated nutmeg
• ¼ tsp. ground white pepper
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• ½ salt
• 4 oz. butter
• 4.5 oz. muscovado sugar
• 2 tbsp. whole milk
• Finely grated orange zest, from 2 oranges
• 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 ½ tsps. boiling water
• 4 drops lemon juice
• 1 oz. almond slivers
• Edible sugar pearls, optional

1. Heat the oven to 330ºF.
2. In a large bowl mix the butter with the sugar, and add the milk and grated orange zest. Sift in the flour with the baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt. Form the dough ball and press into a flat disc. Cover in film and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
3. Roll out the dough to about ¼ inch thick. Cut out using cookie cutters in your favorite holiday shapes – we used stars. If you want, decorate half of the cookies with shaved almonds. Place in a prepped cookie sheet.
4. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until golden. Remove from oven, place over a rack and let cool.
5. For the glaze, mix the powdered sugar with the lemon juice and the water until well incorporated. Brush the glaze over the cookies, decorate with edible pearls, and leave to dry.