De Ruiter’s Bakkerij Speculoos Poppetjes

These gingerbread men are fashioned into a speculoos cookie—a crunchy spiced cookie that’s perfect for dipping in tea or coffee. They have a warm spicy flavor, making them ideal for dunking in a cold glass of milk. In the Netherlands, speculoos cookies as well as the similar speculaas cookies are closely associated with wintertime and the feast of St. Nicholas, which falls on December 6th each year. The term speculaas is said to be derived from the Latin word speculum, which means mirror. This was apparent in the traditional images that would be molded onto the cookies (think Christmas imagery!). But another interpretation connects it to the Latin word speculator, which could reference St. Nicholas, a person who can famously see everything! In the United States, similar versions of the cookies are known as Belgian spice cookies or Dutch windmill cookies. The Dutch enjoy these tasty treats year round, so can you!