Speculaas
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Speculaas (/speky'las/, Spéculos in French) is a type of shortcrust biscuit (AE: cookie), traditionally baked for consumption on St Nicholas' Eve (December 5) in Belgium, the Netherlands and parts of Germany. Speculaas are thin, very crunchy, slightly browned, and, most significantly, have some image or figure (often from circle of traditional stories about St. Nicholas) stamped on the front side before baking; the back side is flat. The name Speculaas derives from latin speculum, which means mirror, and refers to the fact that the images are cut as a mirrored bas-relief into a wooden stamp which is then used to decorate the Speculaas. Another explanation of the name refers to the Latin word speculator which, among other meanings, could also refer to a bishop.
Speculaas are flavoured with cinnamon and some specific spices. The Belgian town of Hasselt is well-known for its speculaas. The German Spekulatius, popular in Westphalia, is of the same origin and is very similar.
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