Belgium Speculas

5 steps · 45 min total

1. 01

   Cream Butter and Sugar

   In a large bowl, beat the 500 grams of butter with the 900 g of brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. It should look pale and well combined.
2. 02

   Mix Dough and Chill

   Beat in the 8 large eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Sift the 1 kilogram of self-raising flour, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder, and 3/4 teaspoon of nutmeg powder into the wet ingredients, then gently fold until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.

   Cover the dough and transfer it to the refrigerator. Let it chill for at least 6 hours, or even overnight, which makes it much easier to roll out.

3. 03

   Roll and Cut Dough

   Once chilled, lightly flour a pastry board or clean counter. Roll out the dough to your desired thickness, then use cookie cutters to cut out various shapes. Gather any scraps, re-roll, and cut again until you've used all the dough.
4. 04

   Decorate Cookies

   If you're adding them, press colorful mini m&m chocolates onto the cut-out cookie shapes now. This is an optional step, but it adds a nice touch.
5. 05

   Bake Speculas

   Preheat your oven to 180 °C (350 °F). Arrange the cookies on a baking sheet and bake for about 12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the cookies are set.