Even Sinterklaas can be healthy
Give me a bag of chocolate pepernoten and it's gone within half an hour. I first sort out all the white ones because I save those for last. I find them the tastiest. After that I feel nauseous and regret it for a moment. And a few days later, I do exactly the same thing. Now there is actually a healthier version of pepernoten and filled speculaas. I can't guarantee you'll like it as much as the real deal, but at least you won't feel nauseous as quickly and regret doesn't exist. That's something to say, right? I'll give you the recipe, let me know what you think?
Healthy pepernoten
Here's what you need and how to make it:
80 grams almond flour
120 grams spelt flour
3 tbsp speculaas spices
3 tbsp coconut oil (liquid)
3 tbsp rice milk
60 grams coconut blossom sugar
a pinch of salt
First, preheat the oven to 180 degrees. First, put all the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix them together. Then add the rice milk and coconut oil while stirring. You can also use a mixer or knead it with your hands. Once everything is well mixed, make a small ball and place it on a baking sheet. Press the balls down a bit with your thumb so they really take the shape of a pepernoot. Then they can go in the oven for 20 minutes. Do check on them from time to time, of course. Once the pepernoten are ready, let them cool for another 10 minutes outside the oven. And then you can dig in.
Filled speculaas but different
Here's what you need and how to make it:
For the speculaas:
200 grams spelt flour
7 grams baking powder
100 milliliters coconut oil
25 milliliters almond milk
10 grams coconut blossom sugar
2 tablespoons speculaas spices
a bit of salt
some almonds for garnish
For the almond paste:
100 grams almond flour
100 grams of dates
Put the almond flour with the dates (without pits, of course) in a food processor and mix together. If it gets too dry, add some water. It should all become a bit sticky. Then make a ball out of it, cover it with some cling film, and put it in the fridge for a while.
Now first preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Now put all the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix everything together. Then add the milk and coconut oil. Do this a bit slowly and stir well in the meantime. Now you have dough. Divide the dough into two pieces. Roll both pieces out to the shape of your baking pan. Rectangular or round or something. Make sure both pieces are exactly the same so they fit perfectly on top of each other later.
Grease the baking pan with a bit of coconut oil and then place the first layer of speculaas dough in it. Spread the almond paste on top and use the second layer of speculaas as a lid. Then press some almonds into the dough for decoration and it can go in the oven for 25 minutes or maybe a bit longer, but you'll have to keep an eye on that yourself.
