Dutch Speculations (Speckulaas)
- 1 cup sweet butter
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 2 lemon
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 tsp. powdered cloves
- 1/8 tsp. powdered cardamom
- 1 tbsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. nutmeg
- 4 cups all purpose flour, sifted
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 2 to 3 tbsp. milk,
- as needed
- 1/4 cup blanched chopped almonds (optional)
- Let butter soften slightly at room temperature.
- Then cream with sugar until fluffy.
- Add lemon rind and mix in eggs.
- Beat in spices.
- Resift flour with baking powder and stir into butter mixture.
- Add milk as needed to make dough smooth.
- Knead dough gently, adding almonds.
- Chill 4 to 5 hours.
- Roll out to 1/8 inch thickness and press patterns in with floured mold.
- Cut cookies apart and place on lightly buttered baking sheets.
- Leftover pieces of dough can be gathered together, rolled, chilled and reshaped.)
- Bake in preheated 400 F. oven for 8 minutes.
- Reduce heat to 325 F. and bake 25 minutes more, or until golden brown.
- Makes about 3 1/2 dozen cookies.
- Visions of SugarPlums
sweet butter, brown sugar, lemon, eggs, powdered cloves, powdered cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, flour, baking powder, milk, almonds
Taken from www.foodgeeks.com/recipes/20409 (may not work)