My housemate randomly decided to bring a bit of her Dutch heritage to England in the form of some nommy Dutch spicey biscuit-y things called Pepernootjes (or Paper-notches, as I like to call them, due to not being able to speak Dutch and all.)
These are them presented beautifully on our blue and white polka dotted table cloth - my contribution to our house! They look, and taste, like tiny balls of spicy christmas heaven :)
She has kindly given me the recipe (in Dutch) and a translation for us non-Dutch speakers, so that we can try making them ourselves. She says they are really easy to make, so we will be scoffing them for the rest of the weekend. She's promised to make us a fresh batch on today, which is the day when, and I quote, "Sinterklaas - a sort of christmas-themed bishop who lives in Spain (?) - arrives on a horse/ferry (depending on your location) with his politically incorrect helper, Zwarte Piet (Black Pete) to leave sweets and treats in young children's shoes. Unless they are bad, in which case Zwarte Piet puts them in a sack and carts them off to Spain." Right-o.
Pepernootjes!
100 gram boter - Butter
125 gram bruine basterdsuiker - Soft brown sugar
1 à 2 eetlepels speculaas kruiden
(Speculaas kruiden are a mixture of cinamon, ground cloves, bit of all spice, bit of ginger but mainly cinnamon.) (Eetlepels are tablespoons)
zout - A pinch of salt
250 gram zelfrijzend bakmeel - Self raising flour
0,5 deciliter melk - Milk.
(I couldn't work out what half a decilitre was, so I just added a little splash of milk and that was fine)
1. Soften the butter in a bowl using a wooden spoon, then add sugar and spices, and stir well.
2. Add flour and mix using cool hands to a stiff dough while adding the milk.
3. Leave to cool in the fridge for half an hour, then make into tiny little balls and put on a baking tray.
4. Preheat oven for five minutes and bake balls for 15 min, at 175C.
Easy Peasy. And trust me, they are delicious!
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