Spekuloos Mania
This here is my favorite cookie, and also one that has so many ways of being spelled, I always have to check to make sure I’m doing it right. Spekuloos!
If you drizzle some melted dark chocolate on top of one, I’d do just about anything for a bite. (No, not that. Not that either, sorry.)
Alas, partially hydrogenated fats, this cookie contains. I always go through several episodes of grabbing the bag only to put it back down, until I decide that the fact I usually eat fairly healthy stuff nips the evil hydrogenation in the bud.
Well, it certainly won’t, but you know what I’m saying: denial is a wonderful thing. And so are these Spekuloos muffins.
Spekuloos Muffins For the muffins:
Non-stick cooking spray
14 ounces (400 g) Spekuloos cookies, finely ground
1 cup (78 g) quick-cooking oats, ground
1 tablespoon (12 g) baking powder
1 1/2 cups (355 ml) almond or other nondairy milk
6 tablespoons (90 g) blended silken tofu or soy yogurt
3/4 cup (144 g) Sucanat
For the chocolate ganache:
1/4 cup (60 ml) plain soy or other nondairy milk
1/2 cup (88 g) nondairy semisweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon (15 ml) pure maple syrup or (21 g) agave nectarPreheat oven to 375°F (190°C, or gas mark 5). Lightly coat a standard muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray.
Whisk cookie crumbles, flour, and baking powder in a large bowl.
Blend milk, tofu or yogurt, and Sucanat in a medium bowl with an immersion blender. Alternately, use a countertop blender or food processor.
Fold wet ingredients into dry, being careful not to overmix.
Divide batter equally among muffin cups.
Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool on a wire rack.To prepare the ganache:
Scorch the milk in a small saucepan on medium-high heat, remove from heat. Add chips, and stir until melted. Add agave, stir well.
Drizzle on top of cooled muffins.Yield: 12 muffins
(this post has been edited from its original version, because I wrongly assumed Ikea sells Spekuloos, when it really sells Pepparkakor instead. I’m such an airhead. hold me.)
Veggie Wedgie said,
January 31, 2009 at 2:38 am
I have never tried that cookie but these muffin looks delicious!
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DJ said,
January 31, 2009 at 2:40 am
I do I kea, I do, I do! If only for the coffee, swedish fish and dill-flavoured chips! Lovely recipe, they were selling these cookies at Lidl as part of the ‘Christmas Market’ this year…
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Liv said,
January 31, 2009 at 3:32 am
Spekuloos was indeed a funny name, but it’s certainly not Swedish and I, who live in Sweden, have never seen the cookie nor the name before :).
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DJ Karma (VegSpinz) said,
January 31, 2009 at 4:05 am
I call those types of treats “vegan crack!”
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Noor said,
January 31, 2009 at 4:22 am
It’s the Belgian way of spelling it. We call it speculaas in Dutch. And it’s readily available everywhere, so I think it must be something typical for the low countries. I’ve recently discovered a speculaas spread you can use for your bread, it’s very addictive.
Although sending you the actual cookies is probably a) not allowed and b) quite costly with the international postage rates, I can send you speculaas spice you can use for baking if you want? I’m pretty sure it’s vegan since it’s spices, but I’ll check asap. If you google “speculaaskruiden” you can find some US based online stores that sell typically Dutch food items, including these spices. But since I can get it at any local supermarket it’s no problem at all for me to get you some. (at least, I think it’s available throughout the year, even thought the holiday it is associated with is at the beginning of December).
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Rosa said,
January 31, 2009 at 5:04 am
Your muffins look really and the pictures are stunning! I love IKEA (the furniture and foodstore)! Yes, the one in Allaman is still set in that way…
Cheers et bon weekend,
Rosa
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VeggieGirl said,
January 31, 2009 at 5:04 am
I LOVE IKEA!!!! And those muffins :-D
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Lisa (Show Me Vegan) said,
January 31, 2009 at 5:45 am
I couldn’t deny myself those muffins with chocolate ganache!
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Shelby said,
January 31, 2009 at 6:20 am
Delicious recipe, I love the cookie addition and the chocolate topping. Mmm.
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jenn said,
January 31, 2009 at 7:23 am
If you like that, you’ll like “Spekulatius Butter“
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Crystal said,
January 31, 2009 at 7:43 am
Oh my gosh! I used to love these cookies! Never would I have thought these would be vegan..
And you just had to put them in a muffin didn’t you?
Well, I guess I’m going to have to make a new batch of muffins soon.. I mean I am getting low..*looks in freezer which has 3276 million tupperweare containers full of muffins and breads.*
Shhh.
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Mara @ What's For Dinner? said,
January 31, 2009 at 7:55 am
I heart IKEA… especially the snacky foods at the exit store! My favorites are the Daim toffees.
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B36Kitchen said,
January 31, 2009 at 8:04 am
I’ve been drooling over the latest IKEA catalog lately. I’m now drooling over those cookies and muffins. I’m going to need to get my hands on some really soon.
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Alisa - Frugal Foodie said,
January 31, 2009 at 8:04 am
Well, the rest of the ingredients look really healthy, and sometimes you just have to go for it! That muffin does look pretty darn scrumtious!
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Maureen Robinson said,
January 31, 2009 at 9:18 am
Ikea is awesome… especially for poor students like me. Who also eat a lot of muffins. Thanks for the recipe!
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Mihl said,
January 31, 2009 at 11:25 am
A speculoos. -laas, -tius, how I love thee!
Why doesn’t our Ikea have those? But they have pepperkakor (which is the Swedish name for very similar cookies). I could use those to make the muffins.
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Jes said,
January 31, 2009 at 12:11 pm
I’ve been eying those cookies for some time now…and the thought of them crumbled into muffins makes me want to hop on my bike and brave the Saturday IKEA traffic. On second thought, maybe not. But ohmygoodness the muffins are tempting!
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Mandee said,
January 31, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Mmm, speculaas in muffin form, great idea! The Ikeas here have the cafe/food sections too but I don’t think they have anything vegan either.
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Ricki said,
January 31, 2009 at 7:30 pm
I’ve heard of them, but never tasted them. And with an Ikea store not too far away, I think I must try them out!
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Vaala said,
January 31, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Ooo, I love those biscuits. We tried to make them once with one of those fancy wooden moulds. Very difficult so I think I’ll just stick to the bought variety for now (or convince my dutch Aunty she needs to make me some!).
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Esi said,
January 31, 2009 at 8:26 pm
I haven’t been to Ikea in ages, but I love their cafes. Good to know the cookies aren’t just available there and that they make excellent muffins too!
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Vegetation said,
January 31, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Oh I love those cookies so much! (Thanks to a Dutch Dad :P). I just HAVE to try these muffins! I know what I’m buying at the supermarket tomorrow!
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larissa said,
January 31, 2009 at 10:40 pm
those muffins seem so good! ur pics are amazing!
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Nicole said,
January 31, 2009 at 11:19 pm
I AM OBSESSED WITH IKEA! I could spend days in there.
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Monika said,
February 1, 2009 at 8:48 am
You are so creative, Celine. I’m sure this first cookbook of yours is just the beginning of your cooking empire…first stop – cookbook…next stop – the world. (-: There are lots of things I miss about Europe and sweet treats are right at the top of the list. Sigh.
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Jennifer said,
February 1, 2009 at 10:53 am
Such a neat idea! I have never had those cookies before but just the very method of making muffins out of them is so interesting! :)
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Sanja said,
February 1, 2009 at 2:11 pm
O yum, that sounds so delicious! Dutch Ikea’s only sell Swedish stuff by the way. But then again, every supermarket sells speculaas. ;-)
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T said,
February 1, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Oh, who doesn’t love Ikea? Even if one does tend to get lost in there for 8 hours at a time…
What a yummy muffin idea! Another excuse to go work up an appetite ogling the kitchen hardware…
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River (Wing-it Vegan) said,
February 1, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Well, they look like they are totally worth the partially hydrogenated fat consumption. Now let’s all play “what can we get Celine to do for some chocolate drizzled Spekuloos cookies”!
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Shellyfish said,
February 2, 2009 at 2:10 am
I was just cursing Ikea for being 25 mintues away because it’s snowing & sleeting and I need some cookies so I can make these! The Ikeas here in France sell everything – the candies, cookies, even the dead animals (blek). I have to admit I love Ikea.
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allularpunk said,
February 2, 2009 at 8:31 am
i’ve never had those cookies, but they sound really good! as do the muffins…mmm! i’ve only been to ikea once (to buy my bed) as it’s so far away, but i LOVE that place!
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Kelly said,
February 2, 2009 at 8:58 am
Mmmm. Your creations look delightful as always. I cannot wait for the cookbook to come out. When is the expected release date.
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Sal said,
February 2, 2009 at 9:53 am
oh my god – yes. I love speculoos, found out you can buy them in my local supermarket which made me sooo happy. I bought some of the spread too, it’s awesome stuff.
I’m going to have to try these muffins!
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Alice said,
February 2, 2009 at 10:50 am
We are deprived of IKEA here in New Zealand, but I have heard of its wonders!
We do however get those spekuloos cookies, in the exact same pack with the cheesy old-style painting on the side – fantastic!
The muffin sounds divine.
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Dallas from Bitchin'Kitchen said,
February 2, 2009 at 1:15 pm
This reminds me of a better version of a recipe I tried over the holidays, something with ground up ginger snaps. Your photos are making me long for an afternoon snack with a big warm mug of tea.
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Jodye said,
February 2, 2009 at 6:18 pm
I’ve read about these cookies on another vegan blog in the past, but now that you endorse them, I know they must be good. The muffins look absolutely scrumptious!
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Nick said,
February 2, 2009 at 10:08 pm
What an interesting cookie. I’ve been to Ikea many times and love how cheap the food is at the end but I’ve never seen these cookies of which you speak. I bet you’re the first person ever to bake a Spekuloos treat!
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healthy ashley said,
February 3, 2009 at 5:10 am
Muffins with gnache? Holy YUM!
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bazu said,
February 3, 2009 at 7:03 am
I love spekuloos almost as much as I love you.
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Celine Reply:
February 5th, 2009 at 10:00 am
♥ to the b to the a. zu!
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Tahinitoo said,
February 5, 2009 at 8:59 am
When you visit me, we can ride the train to IKEA (it’s super close to me!!!!). I’ll buy you a ticket. Hurry up already!!!!
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Celine Reply:
February 5th, 2009 at 10:00 am
I’m on my way!
(I’m really not.)
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Fat Fudge said,
February 18, 2009 at 11:28 am
I bought those same brand of cookies from a Japanese market!
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Lucy T. said,
March 12, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Nice! I love the Ikea food store too. I always load up on their pickles and lingonberry sauce.
I will have to post my recipe for speeculaas soon! (different spelling when you do it the Dutch way, and if you’re not Dutch…you’re not much ;-))) I’ll write you when I do. It’s all-butter but I’m sure you can easily veganify it.
Am really enjoying reading all these back posts. You are one funny bunny, Celine!
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Celine Reply:
March 12th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
lingonberry sauce sounds delish.
yes, do tell when you post your recipe. I’m seriously hooked on spice.
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