Kruidnoten Cookies (Dutch Ginger Nuts)

By
Karin Engelbrecht
Karin Engelbrecht
Magazine editor, restaurant reviewer, and food writer who focuses on Dutch cuisine.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 10/13/21
Traditional Kruidnoten Cookies—Dutch Ginger Nuts

The Spruce / Cara Cormack

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 50 servings
Yield: 100 cookies
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
39 Calories
2g Fat
5g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 50
Amount per serving
Calories 39
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2g 2%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 8mg 3%
Sodium 75mg 3%
Total Carbohydrate 5g 2%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 17mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 9mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Headily spiced with ginger, cinnamon, white pepper, cardamom, cloves, and nutmeg, with a hint of molasses, the origin of these traditional treats is intricately linked to the history of the Netherlands. The Dutch controlled the spice trade with the East in the 17th century, making the use of spices more accessible to ordinary Dutch people. Spices were still expensive, however, which is why their use was reserved for the holidays.

How to translate the name of a classic Dutch Sinterklaas cookie like kruidnoten? We've seen "ginger nuts" used, but it's also the name of a commercial cookie that doesn't have the same heady blend of spices. Name aside, do try these gingerbread-style cookies. Our tried-and-tested homemade version is so much better than what you can buy in a shop - especially if you're bold enough to blend your own custom spice mix, which is ridiculously easy and really makes it your own.

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 cups (200 grams) self-rising flour

  • 1/2 cup (100 grams) sugar, Dutch ​donkerbruine basterdsuiker, see tips, or pure cane sugar, demerara

  • 7 tablespoons (3 1/2 ounces/100 grams) unsalted butter

  • 2 to 3 tablespoons milk

  • 4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, or speculaaskruiden

  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1/2 orange, zested, finely grated

  • 1 large egg white, beaten

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Traditional Kruidnoten Cookies—Dutch Ginger Nuts ingredients

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

  2. In a large mixing bowl, mix together all the ingredients except the egg white and knead well. You may use a mixer with a dough hook attachment here. You should be able to shape the dough into a ball without it sticking to your hands. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and set aside for an hour. so that the spices can work their magic.

    dough in a bowl covered with plastic wrap

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

  3. Preheat the oven to 347 F / 175 C. Grease a cookie sheet or line with parchment paper.

    parchment paper on a baking sheet

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

  4. Wet your hands and roll little marble-sized balls of dough (approx. 1/2 inch/12 mm). Place the dough balls on the cookie sheet.

    cookie dough balls on a baking sheet

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

  5. Using your thumb, gently press down on each ball to flatten slightly.

    cookie dough balls on a baking sheet

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

  6. Brush with egg white.

    brush cookies with egg whites on a baking sheet

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

  7. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the cookies puff up and turn a slightly darker shade of brown. Allow to cool.

    Traditional Kruidnoten Cookies—Dutch Ginger Nuts on a baking sheet

    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

Tips

  • Basterdsuiker is a typical Dutch product. It is manufactured by adding invert sugar and other ingredients to fine white refined sugar. This mixture helps to achieve certain textural structures and keeps baked goods moist. There are three varieties, white, brown and dark brown, called witte basterdsuiker, (licht)bruine basterdsuiker or gele basterdsuiker and donkerbruine basterdsuiker. It is widely available from Dutch supermarkets and some Dutch groceries on the internet. I've had good results substituting the donkerbruine basterdsuiker in this recipe with pure cane sugar (demerera).
  • You can order little sachets of speculaas spices (known as speculaaskruiden) online. But you can easily substitute pumpkin pie spices. You can also make your own speculaaskruiden, which really allows you to tailor things to your tastes - a little more cinnamon, or a little less cardamom - whatever you fancy.
  • Kruidnoten make a great gift. Simply wrap up in some cellophane and tie with a ribbon.

Did You Know?

  • Sinterklaas treats, such as kruidnoten, pepernoten and various candies are known as strooigoed, because they're traditionally strewn and eagerly scooped up by children. The act of sewing suggests fertility, like a farmer sowing his seeds, and the practice is supposedly linked to more ancient Germanic fertility rites practiced here, with children being the living symbols of fertility.
  • Kruidnoten are often mistakenly called pepernoten, which are actually slightly chewy, rusk-like aniseed and honey cookies.
  • Traditional kruidnoten remain popular, but new variations, such as truffle kruidnoten, chocolate-covered kruidnoten and yogurt-covered kruidnoten are also enjoyed.