Kruidnoten

Kruidnoten are small Dutch spiced cookies traditionally eaten during the Sinterklaas feast, which is celebrated mainly in the Netherlands and parts of Belgium. They are typically hard, crisp biscuits, about the size of a coin, with a characteristic warm, aromatic flavor produced by a blend of spices similar to speculaas. The name translates to "spice nuts," though the cookies do not contain nuts.

Common ingredients include flour, butter, sugar, and a spice mix such as cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger, with optional cardamom or white pepper. Some recipes use syrup or molasses to deepen the color and flavor. The dough is shaped into small balls or rough discs and baked until firm, resulting in a crunchy texture.

Kruidnoten are closely associated with the Sinterklaas holiday, which culminates on 5 December, and they are widely sold in shops and homemade at home during the autumn and early winter season. They are often enjoyed with coffee or tea and shared as part of gift-giving rituals surrounding the holiday.

A related and commonly confused product is pepernoten. In many regions, kruidnoten are described as crisp, compact cookies, while pepernoten are softer and cake-like. The distinction can vary by region, and in practice the terms are sometimes used interchangeably in shops and households.

Storage: When kept in an airtight container, kruidnoten typically remain fresh for several weeks. Variants exist, including gluten-free versions and chocolates-coated varieties, reflecting the seasonal popularity of the treat.