Speculaas (spice cookies)

Description
A famous cookie made from spices. It can be seen all over the year, but mainly around christmas.

Note: Some Dutch/European specialty stores may have pre-mixed speculaas

spice packages.

Ingredients

 * 1 cup margarine or butter
 * 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
 * 1 1/2 tsps ground cinnamon
 * 1 tsp baking powder
 * 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
 * 1/2 tsp ground cloves
 * 1/4 tsp salt
 * 1 egg
 * 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
 * 1/3 cup finely chopped blanched almonds (optional)
 * Blanched whole almonds (optional)

Directions
Beat margarine or butter with a mixer on medium to high speed for

30 seconds or by hand. Add brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder,

nutmeg, cloves and salt. Beat in egg and flour. Add chopped almonds

if using. Roll dough to 1/8 inch thickness on a lightly floured

board and cut into shapes (windmills and Sinterklaas/Santa shapes

are traditional but we also cut them into the children's initials).

Decorate with whole almonds if using. Place one inch apart on

lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake in 350 degree F oven 8 to 10

minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool 1 minute, transfer

to wire racks to cool completely. Makes 4 to 6 dozen (depending

on size.)