Spekulatius biscuits: a Christmas treat with history and flavor
When you think of the Christmas season, various things come to mind: the advent wreath, the candles, the scent of cookies, cinnamon stars, marzipan and gingerbread, but one thing must not be missing... Spekulatius- the spiced biscuits!
In Germany you can find it, together with all the other Christmas treats, on the shelves already in autumn. In the Netherlands and Belgium, it is not eaten until St. Nicholas. The Netherlands, as well as Belgium, are also considered for the role of the origin of this short pastry. However, a few German regions such as the Lower Rhine and Westphalia - whose geographical proximity to the Netherlands or Belgium is certainly a given - also report that spiced biscuits were invented there.
Most frequently in Germany the spiced biscuits are consumed, which gets its unique taste from the just already mentioned short pastry, cardamom, cloves and cinnamon. Furthermore, there is the butter spiced biscuits, which obviously uses a much larger amount of butter, and the almond spiced biscuits, whose underside is decorated with almond slivers and in the production of which almond flour is used.
In the Netherlands and Belgium, a caramel note is added to the spiced biscuits - similar to the small cookies that are always served with warm drinks in a café.
Spiced biscuits are always baked in a mould and provided with a motif. The most common motifs in this country are the windmill, the elephant, the house and the ship. But you can also find people, snowmen and all kinds of imaginative shapes on the plate.
Pancakes, flapjacks and cakes - or what?
But enough of the prehistory, the production and the forms. The much more important question is: How can you enjoy spiced biscuits except in the pure baking form?
- Yoghurt
If you look in the refrigerated shelf, you will find the Christmas varieties again and again. So also, ginger biscuits. The yogurt not only tastes like Christmas, it is!
- Tiramisu
In addition to yogurt, another possibility is a spiced biscuit -Tiramisu. Similar to the strawberry tiramisu, it still has some similarities to the real tiramisu in its preparation, but in terms of taste it is much more a single large spiced biscuit with a fine cream. Sometimes a caramelized apple with and without raisins garnishes the tiramisu even more to make the taste even more like Christmas. - Cheesecake
Whether in the base, which is no longer baked, or in the filling itself, whether as a spice on top or even as a pastry decoration. A cheesecake with spiced biscuits is not only for Christmas fans.
- Mugs
In addition to cake lovers, ice cream fans also get their money's worth despite the cold season. Because there is beside the cheesecake also still spiced biscuits ice and also a spiced biscuits cup, which calls out "Christmas" at fine short pastry crumbs and balls only in such a way.
- Donut
Ever since the Oreo donut came into existence, it must also be possible to produce all other cookies in donut form. And so, it is: even a spiced biscuit donut is definitely available for the fans of taste.
A beautiful and crispy Christmas time!