In honor of the 2014 World Cup in Brasil, we tried to incorporate something from the cuisine of each of the final four countries to watch the final. We made Brazilian (pao de queijo) cheese bread as the appetizer and German bratwurst and bread for the entree all with Argentine wine and, last but not least, Dutch Speculaas for dessert!! They have a great combination of spices and are great cookies that can last quite some time.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1/1/4 cups dark brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 3 1/2 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 1/2 tablespoons speculaas spice*
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
*Speculaas spice
- 8 parts cinnamon
- 2 parts nutmeg
- 2 parts ground cloves
- 1 part white pepper
- 1 part ground ginger
- 1 part cardamom
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cream butter, vanilla, and both kinds of sugar until light and fluffy. Add both eggs and blend well.
Whisk all of the dry ingredients together and slowly add to the butter mixture, combining until the dough pulls from the side of the bowl.
Divide the dough in half. Wrap each half in plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours or overnight. It can also be kept in the fridge for several days.
Roll out dough to 1/4″ or 1/8″ thick and cut with cookie cutters. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
Baking With Friends 