Speculaaskruiden is a cozy, old-school Dutch spice blend that's basically made for baking season. It's most famously used in speculaas cookies - those crisp, buttery shortbread-style cookies you might also know as speculoos or classic windmill cookies.

In the Netherlands, this spice mix shows up every year around Sinterklaas and Christmas, and once you smell it baking, it instantly feels like the holidays.
I first used this spice when re-creating the famous amsterdam dutch apple pie from Winkels.

Ingredients

Recipes for speculaaskruiden vary slightly by household and baker, but these are the usual spices.

Cinnamon (the dominant flavor)
Cloves
Nutmeg
Ginger
Mace
Cardamom
White pepper
Anise seed (optional, for an extra licorice note)
Coriander seed (optional)

History

Speculaaskruiden has its roots in the Dutch Golden Age, back when the Netherlands was a major trading power, and spices were luxury items. During the 1600s, the Dutch East India Company brought cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, and cardamom from Asia into Europe. These warm spices were expensive and highly prized, so using them was a sign of wealth and celebration.

Over time, Dutch bakers began combining these spices into a signature blend that became known as speculaaskruiden. It was most commonly used in speculaas cookies, which were traditionally baked for Sinterklaas celebrations in early December. The cookies were often pressed into carved wooden molds depicting windmills, saints, or everyday scenes, turning them into both food and storytelling.

Because spices were costly, speculaas was originally reserved for special occasions. As spices became more accessible, the blend stuck around and became a nostalgic staple of Dutch holiday baking. Every family and bakery had their own preferred ratios, which is why no two speculaaskruiden blends are exactly the same.

Today, speculaaskruiden is still deeply tied to holiday traditions in the Netherlands, but it's also traveled far beyond cookies. You'll find it in cakes, breads, coffee, and even savory dishes - basically anywhere those warm, spiced, wintery flavors feel right. It's one of those blends that instantly connects food to history, trade, and celebration, all in one bite.

Common Uses

While best known for speculaas cookies, the spice mix is versatile and can be used in a variety of other dishes:

Baked goods: Pepernoten, kruidnoten, cakes, Dutch apple pie, and gingerbread.
Beverages: Added to coffee, tea, or hot chocolate.
Other uses: Mixed into oatmeal, pancakes, or even savory beef stews and roasted vegetables.

You can purchase ready-made mixes in Dutch supermarkets or easily make your own at home to adjust the flavor profile to your preference.

How To Make Speculaaskruiden

Simply mix all your spices together and store them in a jar!

Recipe