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This delicious and easy recipe for making Dutch pepernoten is really very quick and fun to make. Wether this is your first time making this little spiced cookies or if you’re a seasoned pepernoot baker, you’re gonna love this recipe.
Table of contents
Why This Recipe Works
Making your own pepernoten (or kruidnoten) is surprisingly easy! With this simple recipe, you can have a tray of freshly baked, fragrant little cookies ready in no time. The best part? You can endlessly experiment with different spices and flavorings to create your very own signature blend of kruidnoten.
Who is Sinterklaas?
If you’ve never heard of pepernoten before, think of them as a cross between a mini ginger cookie and a crunchy spice biscuit. They’re traditionally eaten during the Dutch Sinterklaas celebration. A festive holiday where children leave their shoes by the fireplace in hopes that Saint Nicholas (and his helpers) will fill them with gifts and candy. It’s a beloved winter tradition that takes place in early December and fills the whole country with warmth, music, and the scent of these little cookies.
Recipe Ingredients
Making pepernoten at home is incredibly simple—you only need a few basic ingredients:
- Self-rising flour
- Light brown sugar – you can also use dark brown sugar for a deeper flavor and color
- Butter – make sure it’s cold and firm
- Dutch spice mix (speculaaskruiden) – I love speculaas kruiden, but you can absolutely use gingerbread pie spices too. Add a little extra cinnamon, ginger, or cardamom if you like.
- Milk – you’ll only need a splash to bring the dough together
Kruidnoten or Pepernoten?
I’ve always called them pepernoten, but technically, that’s not correct. Real pepernoten are those slightly chewy, irregularly shaped cubes with an anise flavor. The crunchy, round cookies we all love to find in our shoes during Sinterklaas are actually kruidnoten.
Still, “pepernoten” just sounds so cozy, doesn’t it? True Dutch baking fans might correct you, but honestly, who cares when they taste this good?
Growing up, we never made the distinction. There were pepernoten (aka kruidnoten) and taai-taai, and that was that. I only found out years later that they were technically two different things, but by then, my “pepernoten habit” was well established!
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Make the dough
Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F).
In a large mixing bowl, combine the self-rising flour, sugar, spice mix, and a pinch of salt. Stir well.
Cut the butter into small cubes and add them to the dry ingredients along with the milk. Knead everything together until a smooth dough forms.
Step 2: Roll the dough into balls
This is the most time-consuming step, but also kind of fun (kids will love it)! Roll the dough into small balls, about the size of a marble. If you make them too big (like I sometimes do), they’ll still taste amazing, just a little softer inside.
Step 3: Bake
Place the dough balls on a parchment-lined baking tray.
Bake in the oven for 18–20 minutes, until golden brown and crisp.
Let them cool completely on the baking tray—they’ll firm up as they cool.
Step 4: Enjoy!
And that’s it! You now have a big batch of homemade pepernoten. Perfect for snacking, or for using in other festive desserts (you’ll find some of my favorite recipes below).
FAQ Dutch Pepernoten
Make sure your dough balls are small and even in size. Let them cool completely after baking, this is when they get nice and crisp.
Bake for about 18–20 minutes at 175°C (350°F). Every oven is different, so keep an eye on them, especially if your kruidnoten are on the smaller side.
Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay fresh and crunchy for 1-2 weeks. Don’t store them in the fridge, they’ll go soft.
Yes! You can use margarine or coconut oil instead of butter for a dairy-free version, though the texture may be slightly different.
Absolutely! Check out my gluten-free pepernoten recipe on the Dutch blog (will soon translate that one too)
Recipes Using Pepernoten
Once you’ve made a batch, you’ll definitely want to use them in other recipes too. Here are a few of my favorites:
Experttip
If you like your cookies a bit spicier, add extra ginger or a pinch of cardamom. Prefer something warmer and cozier? A touch more cinnamon and nutmeg works wonders.
Pepernoten (or Kruidnoten) Recipe
Ingredients
- 250 grams self-rising flour 2 cups
- 125 grams light brown sugar ½ cup + 2 tbsp
- 100 grams cold butter 7 tbsp
- 4 tsp Dutch spice mix speculaaskruiden
- 6 tbsp milk
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F).
- Combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.
- Cut the butter into small cubes, add it along with the milk, and knead into a smooth dough.
- Roll small dough balls (about marble-sized) and place them on a parchment-lined baking tray.
- Bake for 18–20 minutes, until golden brown.
- Let cool and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition Information per portion:
Disclaimer:
The nutritional values above are calculated per portion. The details are based on standard nutritional tables and do not constitute a professional nutritional advice.
