Copycat Biscoff Speculoos Cookies Recipe

biscoff cookies on plate
biscoff cookies on plate - Tanika Douglas/Mashed

Are you a Biscoff cookie lover who's never considered making your own? Introducing copycat Biscoff speculoos cookies, which share the iconic spiced flavor and delicate crunch of the store-bought version and can be easily whipped up in the comfort of your own kitchen. "These cookies have become a true favorite in my home! I generally have all the basic ingredients on hand, so I can quickly bake a batch whenever I feel like a sweet treat," says recipe developer Tanika Douglas. "Plus, they're budget-friendly and are just so moreish."

This cookie dough is straight-forward to prepare, with the spiced flour mixture made first and then combined with the wet ingredients into a moist, buttery dough. After an important period of resting, the dough is then rolled out, cut into small fluted rectangles, and baked until perfectly dark golden brown. In addition to being a brilliant morning tea snack, these copycat Biscoff speculoos cookies make a thoughtful present. "I love packaging a batch of cookies into a beautiful tin and gifting them to a loved one or neighbor. It's such an easy present, and people adore the homemade touch," Douglas shares.

Read more: 12 Popular Ice Cream Brands, Ranked Worst To Best

Gather The Ingredients For Copycat Biscoff Speculoos Cookies

ingredients for copycat Biscoff speculoos cookies
ingredients for copycat Biscoff speculoos cookies - Tanika Douglas/Mashed

To create these copycat Biscoff speculoos cookies, you'll need baking staples such as all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, butter, brown sugar, an egg, and milk. From there, check your pantry for spices to flavor the dough. While Lotus-brand Biscoff cookies only use cinnamon, this recipe incorporates the blend of spices — including cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom — used in traditional speculoos cookies.

"I like to think of these as the grown-up, more gourmet version of Biscoff cookies," Douglas explains. "They have the most wonderful balance of sweetness, with a more complex flavor from the different spices." For a subtler flavor, omit the cloves and cardamom, or feel free to replace all of the other spices with equal parts cinnamon.

Step 1: Preheat The Oven

stainless steel oven turned on with white background
stainless steel oven turned on with white background - Tanika Douglas/Mashed

Preheat oven to 360 F.

Step 2: Prepare The Baking Sheets

parchment paper lined baking tray
parchment paper lined baking tray - Tanika Douglas/Mashed

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

Step 3: Combine The Dry Ingredients

spiced flour mixture in bowl
spiced flour mixture in bowl - Tanika Douglas/Mashed

In a small bowl, combine 1 ¼ cups flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom. Set aside.

Step 4: Cream The Butter And Sugar

creamed butter and sugar in bowl of stand mixer
creamed butter and sugar in bowl of stand mixer - Tanika Douglas/Mashed

Add softened butter and brown sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the beater attachment and beat until creamed.

Step 5: Beat In The Egg And Milk

creamed butter in bowl of stand mixer
creamed butter in bowl of stand mixer - Tanika Douglas/Mashed

Beat in the egg and milk to combine.

Step 6: Add The Flour Mixture

cookie dough in mixing bowl
cookie dough in mixing bowl - Tanika Douglas/Mashed

Add flour mixture and mix until very well incorporated.

Step 7: Refrigerate The Dough

cookie dough wrapped in plastic wrap
cookie dough wrapped in plastic wrap - Tanika Douglas/Mashed

Shape dough into a thick disc, then wrap in plastic wrap and place into the fridge to rest for 4 hours.

Step 8: Place The Dough Onto A Floured Surface

cookie dough ball dusted with flour on countertop
cookie dough ball dusted with flour on countertop - Tanika Douglas/Mashed

Once the dough has chilled, use half of the remaining 1 tablespoon flour to dust a clean countertop. Place the dough on top, then sprinkle on the rest of the flour.

Step 9: Roll Out The Dough

hand on rolling pin rolling out cookie dough
hand on rolling pin rolling out cookie dough - Tanika Douglas/Mashed

Use a rolling pin to roll the dough ¼ inch thick.

Step 10: Cut Out The Cookies

cookie dough with rectangular cookies cut out
cookie dough with rectangular cookies cut out - Tanika Douglas/Mashed

Using a 2 ½ x 1 ½ inch fluted rectangular cookie cutter, cut approximately 18 cookies.

Step 11: Arrange The Cookies On The Baking Sheets

unbaked cookies on parchment lined baking sheet
unbaked cookies on parchment lined baking sheet - Tanika Douglas/Mashed

Space out the cookies on the prepared baking sheets.

Step 12: Bake The Cookies

baked cookies on parchment lined baking sheet
baked cookies on parchment lined baking sheet - Tanika Douglas/Mashed

Bake for 10 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp.

Step 13: Let The Cookies Cool

baked cookies on parchment lined baking sheet
baked cookies on parchment lined baking sheet - Tanika Douglas/Mashed

Remove cookies from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes on the baking sheet.

Step 14: Serve The Cookies

homemade biscoff speculoos cookies piled on white plate
homemade biscoff speculoos cookies piled on white plate - Tanika Douglas/Mashed

Once cool, serve or store in an airtight container.

What Is The Difference Between Biscoff And Speculoos Cookies?

two homemade cookies with a Lotus Biscoff cookie
two homemade cookies with a Lotus Biscoff cookie - Tanika Douglas/Mashed

The terms "Biscoff" and "speculoos" are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Biscoff, a combination of the words "biscuit" and "coffee," is a creation by the Belgian brand Lotus, which gained worldwide popularity for its caramelized spiced cookies and has since created cookie by-products including spreads, sauces, and chocolate. "Biscoff has really been a flavor of the moment over the last few years, and I have been seeing it regularly on dessert menus. I particularly loved using the cookies and spread in my indulgent Biscoff 'cookie butter' cheesecake recipe," Douglas says.

Speculoos, on the other hand, is a broader term referring to spiced cookies that have a long history in European cooking. Originating in the Netherlands and Belgium, speculoos are traditionally baked around the holiday season, often with intricate molds to create decorative shapes.

In terms of flavor differences, Biscoff cookies often have a milder, sweeter taste, with cinnamon being the only spice used in the recipe. Traditional speculoos cookies have the same crisp texture but are more aromatic with a heavier dose of spices, as is the case in this recipe.

Can I Make Speculoos Cookie Dough In Advance?

homemade biscoff speculoos cookies piled on white plate
homemade biscoff speculoos cookies piled on white plate - Tanika Douglas/Mashed

Preparing the dough for these copycat Biscoff speculoos cookies in advance is a great time-saving strategy that allows you to freshly bake the cookies when you please. To make the cookie dough ahead of time, follow the recipe up to Step 7, when the dough is shaped into a thick disc and wrapped in plastic wrap. Instead of chilling the dough for the minimum 4 hours, you can keep it in the fridge for up to 24 hours before baking.

Alternatively, freezing cookie dough is another, longer lasting option. Simply store the plastic-wrapped dough disc in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you're ready to bake, let the dough thaw and proceed with the rolling, cutting, and baking steps. In addition to these refrigerating and freezing methods, leftover baked cookies can be cooled and stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Copycat Biscoff Speculoos Cookies Recipe

homemade biscoff speculoos cookies stacked
homemade biscoff speculoos cookies stacked - Tanika Douglas/Mashed

Prep Time: 4h 30mCook Time: 10mYield: 18 cookiesIngredients

  • 1 ¼ cups + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, divided

  • ½ teaspoon baking powder

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

  • ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger

  • ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg

  • ¹⁄₁₆ teaspoon ground cloves

  • ¹⁄₁₆ teaspoon ground cardamom

  • 6 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

  • ¾ cup brown sugar, firmly packed

  • 1 egg

  • 1 tablespoon milk

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 360 F.

  2. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

  3. In a small bowl, combine 1 ¼ cups flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom. Set aside.

  4. Add softened butter and brown sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the beater attachment and beat until creamed.

  5. Beat in the egg and milk to combine.

  6. Add flour mixture and mix until very well incorporated.

  7. Shape dough into a thick disc, then wrap in plastic wrap and place into the fridge to rest for 4 hours.

  8. Once the dough has chilled, use half of the remaining 1 tablespoon flour to dust a clean countertop. Place the dough on top, then sprinkle on the rest of the flour.

  9. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough ¼ inch thick.

  10. Using a 2 ½ x 1 ½ inch fluted rectangular cookie cutter, cut approximately 18 cookies.

  11. Space out the cookies on the prepared baking sheets.

  12. Bake for 10 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp.

  13. Remove cookies from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes on the baking sheet.

  14. Once cool, serve or store in an airtight container.

Read the original article on Mashed.