Dutch Speculations (Speckulaas)

Ingredients

• 1 cup sweet butter
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 2 lemon
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp. powdered cloves
• 1/8 tsp. powdered cardamom
• 1 tbsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. nutmeg
• 4 cups all purpose flour
• sifted
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 2 to 3 tbsp. milk
• as needed
• 1/4 cup blanched chopped almonds (optional)

Instructions

1. Let butter soften slightly at room temperature.
2. Then cream with sugar until fluffy.
3. Add lemon rind and mix in eggs.
4. Beat in spices.
5. Resift flour with baking powder and stir into butter mixture.
6. Add milk as needed to make dough smooth.
7. Knead dough gently, adding almonds.
8. Chill 4 to 5 hours.
9. Roll out to 1/8 inch thickness and press patterns in with floured mold.
10. Cut cookies apart and place on lightly buttered baking sheets.
11. Leftover pieces of dough can be gathered together, rolled, chilled and reshaped.)
12. Bake in preheated 400 F. oven for 8 minutes.
13. Reduce heat to 325 F. and bake 25 minutes more, or until golden brown.
14. Makes about 3 1/2 dozen cookies.
15. Visions of SugarPlums