Sinterklaas has arrived in Apeldoorn!

Near the end of November each year, Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas) arrives by steamboat from Spain, down the canals, all over The Netherlands.

He then proceeds on a grey horse through the streets carrying a mitre and his book of children's names who have been naughty or nice. His helpers are called zwarte Pieten - black Pete's - so named because of their black faces. I have to admit I was horrified when I first encountered this and still am, as it does have a reference to slaves - a disgusting part of history that should never have happened. It has caused a lot of debate over the years regarding racial reference but the modern explanation seems to be that their faces are black from going down many chimneys with presents from Sinterklaas. The shelves are full of colourful outfits for children to dress as Sinterklaas's helpers and you can see lots of little ones around this time of year dressed alike.

Sinterklaas and his helpers carry bags of sweets and kruidnoten (small ginger biscuits) and give them out to the crowds of children that line the street. December the 5th is Sinterklaas day here and instead of putting a stocking out for Santa to fill the night before - they put a shoe or boot out and presents are placed inside and around it - kruidnoten are strewn around the gift area to establish that Sinterklaas has visited in the night.

I have to say these are delicious and are sold plain or covered in plain - milk or white chocolate which are just yummy.

I found an authentic recipe to make your own and will attach it below. It is from 'aboutdutch.com'' and is  by a Dutch lady called Karin Engelbrecht who is living in Amsterdam. The recipe calls for the spice 'speculaaskruiden' which she kindly gives you the recipe for also - or you could just use pumpkin pie spices if you are in the USA or ginger, cinnamon and cloves will do the same job if you are in the UK.
Leave them plain or dip them in chocolate - would be lovely as gifts wrapped in cellophane and tied with a ribbon.

Kruidnoten

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups self-rising flour (200 g)
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar or pure cane sugar (demerera) (100 g)
• 7 tbsp butter (100 g)
• 2-3 tbsp milk
• 4 tsp speculaaskruiden (or pumpkin pie spice)
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• The finely grated zest of half an orange
• 1 egg white, beaten

Preparation:

Mix together all the ingredients in a large bowl and knead (you may use a mixer with a dough hook attachment). You should be able to shape the dough into a ball without it sticking to your hands. Cover the dough ball with plastic wrap and set aside for an hour. This allows the spices to work their magic.

Preheat the oven to 347 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Grease a cookie sheet.

Wet your hands and roll little marble-sized balls of dough (of approx. 1/2 inch/12 mm). Place dough balls on the cookie sheet. Using your thumb, gently press down on each cookie to flatten slightly. Brush with egg white. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the cookies puff up and turn a slightly darker shade of brown. Allow to cool.

Makes about 100 kruidnoten.

Speculaaskruiden

YOU WILL NEED:

4 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground cloves

1 tsp ground mace

1/3 tsp ground ginger

1/5 tsp ground white pepper (a pinch)

1/5 tsp ground cardamom (a pinch)

1/5 tsp ground coriander seeds (a pinch)

1/5 tsp ground anise seeds (a pinch)

1/5 tsp grated nutmeg (a pinch)