In the Netherlands, Sinterklaas and his helpers have arrived in the country again. The pepernoten and kruidnoten have been in stores for several weeks. But what’s the difference?
Kruidnoten taste like speculaas, are small round cookies with a flat bottom, and all have a uniform shape.
Pepernoten, on the other hand, are more like soft chewy taaitaai than cookies. They’re cut into small cubes on a baking tray, which gives them an irregular shape. Unlike kruidnoten, pepernoten contain anise, honey, and rye flour.
Below is the recipe for homemade kruidnoten made with oatmeal.
Ingredients (for approx. 30 kruidnoten)
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100 g oats, finely ground in a food processor
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35 g soft unsalted butter
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4 tbsp semi-skimmed milk
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1 tsp baking powder
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6 g speculaas spice mix
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3 tbsp honey or date syrup
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Pinch of salt
Preparation
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Preheat the oven to 175°C (347°F).
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In a bowl, mix all dry ingredients thoroughly.
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Add the wet ingredients and knead well until a dough forms.
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Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
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Roll small balls of dough and place them on the tray. The dough will spread, so make the balls small and leave enough space between them.
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Bake for about 15 minutes.
Tip:
Let the kruidnoten cool for at least 15 minutes. They will firm up as they cool.
Nutritional value (per 5 kruidnoten):
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143 kcal
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3 g protein
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19 g carbohydrates
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6 g fat