With the arrival of St. Nicholas on the doorstep, there is nothing cozier than getting into the kitchen and baking your own filled speculaas. This traditional recipe is given an extra dimension by adding a touch of Zeeuwsche Zoute Puur, which perfectly balances the rich flavors of spices and almond paste. Make this treat just before Christmas Eve and your whole house will smell deliciously of speculaas. Enjoy this treat during the holidays with family and friends!
6
Average
1.5 to 2 hours
First, preheat the oven to 175 °C and start preparing the speculaas dough. In a large bowl, mix the flour, brown caster sugar, speculaas spices, baking powder and a pinch of salt. Then add the cold diced butter and knead everything into a cohesive dough. If the dough seems too dry, add a tablespoon of milk to make it bind better. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least half an hour. Meanwhile, you can make the almond paste. Mix the almond flour, sugar, egg and possibly the lemon zest in a bowl until smooth and firm. Set this mixture aside until you need it. After resting the dough, divide it into two equal pieces and roll out each piece to the size of your baking pan. Line the baking pan with baking paper and place the first part of the rolled out dough on the bottom. Spread the almond paste evenly over this dough and press it gently. Then place the second piece of dough on top of the layer of almond paste and press lightly to make the layers adhere well. Brush the top of the speculoos with a beaten egg for a nice sheen and sprinkle with almond meal as desired. Place the baking pan in the center of the preheated oven and bake the filled speculoos for 30-35 minutes, until the top is golden brown. After baking, let the speculoos cool completely so that it is firm enough to cut into nice pieces. Once it is well cooled, you can serve it and enjoy this delicious, traditional treat.
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